Quit Smoking Timeline.
When you give up smoking, the first benefit of not smoking will come within 30 minutes, as your heart rate will have returned back towards normal levels.
4 Hours: Stage 2 in the quit smoking timeline
The next stage in the quit smoking timeline happens within 4 Hours after quitting cigarettes.
By now, your heart rate and blood pressure will have returned to near normal levels. Also for most smokers, your peripheral circulation may also improve. This can often be experienced by the tips of your fingers and toes starting to feel warm.
But also Nicotine withdrawal symptoms usually start about three to four hours after your last cigarette.
Signs of nicotine withdrawal symptoms include:
- intense cravings that can last for about 3 minutes on average
- a sense of anxiety
- tiredness or trouble sleeping
- increased appetite
- Empty feeling
12 Hours: Stage 3 in the quit smoking timeline
In just 12 hours after giving up smoking, the amount of carbon monoxide in your system decreases to lower levels, and your blood oxygen levels increase to healthier levels.
Carbon monoxide, released from every cigarette you smoke, which can be toxic to the body at high levels.It can cause serious cardiovascular problems.
24 hours: Stage 4 in the quit smoking timeline
The stark medical fact for all smokers is that the heart attack rate for smokers is 68% higher than for nonsmokers. But the great news is that even after one full day after giving up smoking, your risk for heart attack will have begun to drop
48 Hours: Stage 5 in the quit smoking timeline
The healing process is now really starting to work.
Your nerve endings now begin to re-grow, and your smell and taste functions are improving to a great extent.
3 days: Stage 6 in the quit smoking timeline
For many this will be the most dangerous moment when you are giving up smoking. At this point of the quit smoking timeline , the nicotine will have completely left your system. Thus at this moment, the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal will generally be peaking. This is reflected in physical symptoms like nausea, headaches and an empty physical feeling.
3 Weeks: Stage 6 in the quit smoking timeline
After three weeks, your ability to perform physical activites will have improved to a great extent. This is caused by a number of healing processes that have started in your body; your circulation is improving as is your your lung function ,which can be seen from your ability to breath easier.
Also, for the majority of smokers, withdrawal symptoms will have disappeared by now.
3 weeks to 9 Months: Stage 7 in the quit smoking timeline
Within 1 month after you give up smoking, your lungs have begun to repair. The cilia which are small , hair-like organelles in the lungs who job is to push mucus out—have started to repair themselves and function properly. With the cilia now in better shape, there will have a greater ability to reduce your risk of infection. With properly functioning lungs, your coughing and shortness of breath will continue to improve dramatically.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking
