What happens to your body when you stop smoking?

According to the Ministry of Health, tobacco use is the top most preventable cause of death in Kenya and one of the four risk factors raising the burden of non-communicable diseases in the country.

More than 6000 people in Kenya die due to tobacco-caused diseases with more than 220,000 children and over 2,737,000 adults continuing to use tobacco each day.

Such facts definitely puts perspective on the need to curb tobacco smoking within the country including the need to quit smoking for those that indulge.

There are numerous reasons why someone would want to quit smoking.

From wanting to ditch the smell of cigarettes to dire health complications that come with the long use of tobacco – the list is endless.

Your body will definitely go through some changes when you quit smoking and here are some of them.

1. Physical withdrawal symptoms

Quitting smoking during the first few weeks can be very tough.

You will experience severe headaches, nausea and fatigue.

Increased appetite and trouble sleeping are also some of the withdrawal symptoms of quitting to smoke.

The symptoms however subside after some time depending on how long you have been smoking.

2.Blood circulation improves

Exactly two hours after you quit smoking, your blood circulation your blood circulation starts to improve.

Your heart rate and blood pressure lower to normal and your fingers and toes which would usually feel cold will start to warm up.

3.Your risk of getting heart diseases decreases

The amount of carbon monoxide in your blood decreases and the amount of oxygen within your blood increases within just 12 hours of quitting to smoke.

After one year of quitting, your chances of getting a heart disease decreases by half of a smoker’s risk. 15 years after and your risk of getting a heart disease decreases all the way to that of a non-smoker.

4.Your sense of taste and smell improves

Your taste buds as well as your sense of smell go back to normal after two days of quitting to smoke.

The sense of smell and taste are diminished when someone smokes due to the nicotine clouding those senses.

When you quit smoking however, it only takes 48 hours for nicotine to completely leave your body thus improving your sense of smell and taste.

5.You breathe better

Your breathing greatly improves within a few days of quitting.

6.You cough a bit more

It may be annoying to cough all the time but it is actually a good sign for people who are trying to quit smoking because that means that the more you cough, the more dirt and toxic substances are removed from your lungs.

Your lungs are basically cleaning themselves out.

7.You might gain weight

Some withdrawal symptoms of quitting tobacco smoking is the increase in appetite so you may be more inclined to satisfy your food cravings when you are not smoking which may lead to a bit of weight gain.

8.Makes you look younger

The chemicals in cigarette smoke causes the elastin and collagen – which are responsible for the firmness and elasticity of your skin- in your skin to break down thus damaging your skin.

On top of that, nicotine limits the blood flow to your skin thus denying your skin of necessary nutrients – this may lead to creasing and dullness of the skin.

Quitting tobacco smoking improves the blood flow of nutrients to your skin and reduces the flow of harmful chemicals in your blood thus preventing you from aging prematurely.

9.Smoking affects the way your breasts look so when you quit, your boobs get to look better

Ever wondered why your breasts are saggy, it could be because you consistently smoke. As mentioned above, smoking affects the elasticity of your skin which can cause the sagginess of the breasts.

10. Your teeth brighten

You will no longer have yellow teeth and your breath problems will improve.