Quitting Smoking Timeline: What to Expect When You Quit Tobacco

Table of Contents

1. What Happens When You Quit Smoking
2. What to Expect When Quitting Smoking Timeline
3. Quitting Smoking Timeline
4. Long-Term Benefits of Quitting Smoking
5. The Best Way To Quit
6. Does Vaping Help To Quit
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Final Thoughts

Table of Contents

1. What Happens When You Quit Smoking
2. What to Expect When Quitting Smoking Timeline
3. Quitting Smoking Timeline
4. Long-Term Benefits of Quitting Smoking
5. The Best Way To Quit
6. Does Vaping Help To Quit
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Final Thoughts

What Are the Benefits of Quitting Smoking?

The benefits of stopping smoking are well known, but it does not hurt to go over those points again.

• The cycle of addiction is finally broken. No more are those who break the habit trapped on the hamster wheel of nicotine dependence.
• Hearing and vision are improved, and additional damage to the eyes will not occur because they are no longer being irritated by smoke.
• The mouth becomes cleaner as breath improves, and the smile becomes brighter.
• Improved skin as the blemishes disappear and the chances of premature aging are reduced.
• Heart health improved, and the chances for heart attacks, blood clotting, and high cholesterol are lowered.
• There will be no more additional scarring to the lungs, and the chances of developing emphysema are reduced. Also, the cilia in the lungs will start to regrow.
• Cigarette use damages the DNA, increasing the risk of cancer. Quitting reduces the risk of developing cancer.
• Reduced risk of weight gain and diabetes, as well as a return to normal estrogen levels in women and reduced chances of complications during pregnancy.
• Increased sexual performance
• Improved white blood cell count and a faster and more robust immune response to infections
• More oxygen in the blood results in stronger muscles

The benefits of stopping smoking are well known, but it does not hurt to go over those points again.

• The cycle of addiction is finally broken. No more are those who break the habit trapped on the hamster wheel of nicotine dependence.
• Hearing and vision are improved, and additional damage to the eyes will not occur because they are no longer being irritated by smoke.
• The mouth becomes cleaner as breath improves, and the smile becomes brighter.
• Improved skin as the blemishes disappear and the chances of premature aging are reduced.
• Heart health improved, and the chances for heart attacks, blood clotting, and high cholesterol are lowered.
• There will be no more additional scarring to the lungs, and the chances of developing emphysema are reduced. Also, the cilia in the lungs will start to regrow.
• Cigarette use damages the DNA, increasing the risk of cancer. Quitting reduces the risk of developing cancer.
• Reduced risk of weight gain and diabetes, as well as a return to normal estrogen levels in women and reduced chances of complications during pregnancy.
• Increased sexual performance
• Improved white blood cell count and a faster and more robust immune response to infections
• More oxygen in the blood results in stronger muscles

Quitting Smoking Timeline Effects

Quitting smoking now greatly reduces your risk for numerous diseases, cancers, COPD, and reproductive complications. When quitting smoking, there are numerous physical and emotional effects the body experiences. These effects are both short-term and long-term.

Every time someone smokes a cigarette, he or she inhales a copious amount of carcinogenic chemicals and irritating cigarette smoke that damages the lungs, heart, and other parts of the body. The benefits of quitting can be felt very soon after quitting, whether a person has been using cigarettes for decades or a few years.

Quitting smoking now greatly reduces your risk for numerous diseases, cancers, COPD, and reproductive complications. When quitting smoking, there are numerous physical and emotional effects the body experiences. These effects are both short-term and long-term.

Every time someone smokes a cigarette, he or she inhales a copious amount of carcinogenic chemicals and irritating cigarette smoke that damages the lungs, heart, and other parts of the body. The benefits of quitting can be felt very soon after quitting, whether a person has been using cigarettes for decades or a few years.

Quitting Smoking Timeline: 15 Minutes to 20 Years

• 20 Minutes: Blood pressure and pulse normalize, and the fibers in the bronchial tubes start moving again, resulting in the lungs being better able to expel agents that can potentially cause infections. You may begin to feel warmth in your fingertips and other extremities. This is due to your circulation improving.
• 8-12 Hours: Carbon monoxide levels normalize, and blood oxygen levels return to normal. Increased blood oxygen levels mean that tissues and blood vessels receive better nourishment.
• 24 Hours: Increased oxygen levels and less restricted veins and arteries reduce the risk of a heart attack.
• 48 Hours: Damaged nerve endings heal, sense of smell and taste will begin to increase, allowing you to experience more flavor and aromas.
• 72 Hours: Bronchial tubes expand, and lung capacity improves, making breathing less laborious. The nicotine levels in the system will have been depleted. However, with this absence comes greater symptoms of withdrawal. Increased tension, cravings, irritability, and other symptoms may be strongly present.
• 1 Week: Those who go one week without cigarettes are nine times more likely to quit successfully.
• 2 Weeks: The ability to walk improves as blood circulation improves. Lung functioning increases 30 percent. According to the American Heart Association, the lung capacity and performance will begin to regenerate and improve, as well as the circulation. This will allow you to perform intense activities such as exercising, running, and various other physical activities that rely on endurance and stamina.
• 1-9 Months: Energy levels increase while coughing, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease. The fibers in the bronchial tubes regrow, making it easier to expel mucus. One of the adverse effects of smoking analog cigarettes is the damage to the cilia. Cilia are the small hair-like organelles that assist in reducing your risk of infections by pushing mucus out of your lungs. The regenerative process your lungs undergo includes the repair of the cilia. This increases lung function and performance, as well as reduces the risk of infection.
• 3 Years: Heart attack risk decreases to that of a non-smoker
• 10 Years: Lung cancer risk is that of a non-smoker; chances of developing other cancers decrease, and healthy cells replace pre-cancerous cells.

With the absence comes greater symptoms of withdrawal, which is why it is good to have something like nicotine gum or a vaporizer around to help manage your cravings.

• 20 Minutes: Blood pressure and pulse normalize, and the fibers in the bronchial tubes start moving again, resulting in the lungs being better able to expel agents that can potentially cause infections. You may begin to feel warmth in your fingertips and other extremities. This is due to your circulation improving.
• 8-12 Hours: Carbon monoxide levels normalize, and blood oxygen levels return to normal. Increased blood oxygen levels mean that tissues and blood vessels receive better nourishment.
• 24 Hours: Increased oxygen levels and less restricted veins and arteries reduce the risk of a heart attack.
• 48 Hours: Damaged nerve endings heal, sense of smell and taste will begin to increase, allowing you to experience more flavor and aromas.
• 72 Hours: Bronchial tubes expand, and lung capacity improves, making breathing less laborious. The nicotine levels in the system will have been depleted. However, with this absence comes greater symptoms of withdrawal. Increased tension, cravings, irritability, and other symptoms may be strongly present.
• 1 Week: Those who go one week without cigarettes are nine times more likely to quit successfully.
• 2 Weeks: The ability to walk improves as blood circulation improves. Lung functioning increases 30 percent. According to the American Heart Association, the lung capacity and performance will begin to regenerate and improve, as well as the circulation. This will allow you to perform intense activities such as exercising, running, and various other physical activities that rely on endurance and stamina.
• 1-9 Months: Energy levels increase while coughing, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease. The fibers in the bronchial tubes regrow, making it easier to expel mucus. One of the adverse effects of smoking analog cigarettes is the damage to the cilia. Cilia are the small hair-like organelles that assist in reducing your risk of infections by pushing mucus out of your lungs. The regenerative process your lungs undergo includes the repair of the cilia. This increases lung function and performance, as well as reduces the risk of infection.
• 3 Years: Heart attack risk decreases to that of a non-smoker
• 10 Years: Lung cancer risk is that of a non-smoker; chances of developing other cancers decrease, and healthy cells replace pre-cancerous cells.

With the absence comes greater symptoms of withdrawal, which is why it is good to have something like nicotine gum or a vaporizer around to help manage your cravings.

Long-Term Effects Of Stopping Smoking

• The risk for any type of coronary heart disease is much greater for a smoker. According to the CDC, approximately one year after smoking your overall risk for coronary heart disease decreases by half.
• Another primary adverse effect smoking has on your health is the constricting of blood vessels. The constricting of the blood vessels greatly increases the chance of stroke. A primary factor that causes this is carbon monoxide.

  Between five and 15 years after quitting smoking, the chance of stroke decreases to that of an average non-smoker, according to the CDC. This restorative process takes time but results in an overall decrease in an ex-smoker’s mortality rate.

• The CDC further states that after 10 years of not smoking, the risk of lung cancer, cancer of the throat, mouth, esophagus, and major organs also decreases by approximately half that of a traditional cigarette smoker. Medical practitioners report that nearly 90% of all lung cancer-related deaths are a result of smoking traditional cigarettes.

How Will The Skin Improve After Quitting Smoking?

Even at a young age, smoking deprives the skin of much-needed nutrients and life-giving oxygen. This causes the skin to either lose color or become noticeably discolored.

Quitting smoking now not only greatly reduces the chances of contracting several forms of cancers, but will also aid in the restoration of skin cells, collagen, elastin, and will replenish the skin with vital nutrients and oxygen.

• The risk for any type of coronary heart disease is much greater for a smoker. According to the CDC, approximately one year after smoking your overall risk for coronary heart disease decreases by half.
• Another primary adverse effect smoking has on your health is the constricting of blood vessels. The constricting of the blood vessels greatly increases the chance of stroke. A primary factor that causes this is carbon monoxide.

  Between five and 15 years after quitting smoking, the chance of stroke decreases to that of an average non-smoker, according to the CDC. This restorative process takes time but results in an overall decrease in an ex-smoker’s mortality rate.

• The CDC further states that after 10 years of not smoking, the risk of lung cancer, cancer of the throat, mouth, esophagus, and major organs also decreases by approximately half that of a traditional cigarette smoker. Medical practitioners report that nearly 90% of all lung cancer-related deaths are a result of smoking traditional cigarettes.

How Will The Skin Improve After Quitting Smoking?

Even at a young age, smoking deprives the skin of much-needed nutrients and life-giving oxygen. This causes the skin to either lose color or become noticeably discolored.

Quitting smoking now not only greatly reduces the chances of contracting several forms of cancers, but will also aid in the restoration of skin cells, collagen, elastin, and will replenish the skin with vital nutrients and oxygen.

What Is the Most Successful Way to Quit?

Giving up tobacco could be the most challenging undertakings someone will ever do, but there are ways to improve one’s chances:

• One Day at a Time: Smoking cessation is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on staying smoke-free one day at a time. Each day it gets easier.
• Smoking Cessation Programs: Speak with a doctor or therapist about participating in a smoking cessation program. A program with guided steps may increase your chances of dropping tobacco for good. Many programs also incorporate nicotine replacement therapy, which can make cravings less intense.
• Lifestyle Changes: Incorporate healthy habits into your life, like diet and exercise. Those who quit risk weight gain, but a proper diet can prevent weight gain. Exercising can help a person focus on something else besides his or her cravings while improving cardiovascular and skeletal-muscular health.
• Stress Management: Many people smoke to deal with stress. Identify situations that are stressful and learn to deal with them in a productive way.
• Get Help: Having the help and support of friends and family, medical professionals, or a priest can make the transition to a tobacco-free lifestyle easier.

The human body has the ability to heal and regenerate, however, smoking must be stopped immediately. There are numerous aids to help quit smoking. Nicotine replacement therapies and medications, are methods proven to increase the chances of quitting long-term.

Giving up tobacco could be the most challenging undertakings someone will ever do, but there are ways to improve one’s chances:

• One Day at a Time: Smoking cessation is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on staying smoke-free one day at a time. Each day it gets easier.
• Smoking Cessation Programs: Speak with a doctor or therapist about participating in a smoking cessation program. A program with guided steps may increase your chances of dropping tobacco for good. Many programs also incorporate nicotine replacement therapy, which can make cravings less intense.
• Lifestyle Changes: Incorporate healthy habits into your life, like diet and exercise. Those who quit risk weight gain, but a proper diet can prevent weight gain. Exercising can help a person focus on something else besides his or her cravings while improving cardiovascular and skeletal-muscular health.
• Stress Management: Many people smoke to deal with stress. Identify situations that are stressful and learn to deal with them in a productive way.
• Get Help: Having the help and support of friends and family, medical professionals, or a priest can make the transition to a tobacco-free lifestyle easier.

The human body has the ability to heal and regenerate, however, smoking must be stopped immediately. There are numerous aids to help quit smoking. Nicotine replacement therapies and medications, are methods proven to increase the chances of quitting long-term.

Is Vaping Bad for You?

Electronic cigarettes or vapes are battery-operated devices containing liquids like nicotine in various flavorings and chemicals (propylene glycol, glycerin). They design these devices in various shapes and sizes like the traditional pipes, cigars, and tobacco cigarettes. There are also new e-cigs that appear like pens, USB memory sticks, or in large tank systems.

Do E-Cigarettes Help Smokers Quit??

There are cases where an electronic cigarette may reduce the cravings of smoking traditional cigarettes. However, there is no clear evidence of whether it can be an effective cessation aid. There are still possibilities that using e-cigs could lead to nicotine addiction. As a result, it can prevent the user from quitting completely.

What Are the Side Effects of Vaping?

• Dry mouth
  This could be due to the VG content. It makes the user’s mouth feel dry.
• Dry skin
  When a person is dehydrated, it can dry out one’s skin. This can be prevented by drinking water. For those with oily skin, this side effect might be favorable.
• Itchiness
  When the skin is dry, it itches. The skin may appear flaky and red.
• Dizziness
  Another side effect of vaping devices is dizziness, especially if they’re using the Sub Ohm method.
• Allergies
  Allergic reactions could occur to the different flavorings and other chemicals. Propylene Glycol or Vegetable Glycerin may be the cause.
• Canker sores
  Vaping itself isn’t the cause of this side effect but the user’s personal hygiene is. You should keep the vaping mouthpiece clean to prevent canker sores.

Continued use of e-cigs over a long period could lead to damaging effects on the cardiovascular system. Below are the long-term side effects of using e-cigs:

• Heart disease
• Inflammation of lungs (asthma)
• Congenital Disabilities on pregnant women
• Cancer
• Accidental nicotine poisoning

Electronic cigarettes or vapes are battery-operated devices containing liquids like nicotine in various flavorings and chemicals (propylene glycol, glycerin). They design these devices in various shapes and sizes like the traditional pipes, cigars, and tobacco cigarettes. There are also new e-cigs that appear like pens, USB memory sticks, or in large tank systems.

Do E-Cigarettes Help Smokers Quit??

There are cases where an electronic cigarette may reduce the cravings of smoking traditional cigarettes. However, there is no clear evidence of whether it can be an effective cessation aid. There are still possibilities that using e-cigs could lead to nicotine addiction. As a result, it can prevent the user from quitting completely.

What Are the Side Effects of Vaping?

• Dry mouth
  This could be due to the VG content. It makes the user’s mouth feel dry.
• Dry skin
  When a person is dehydrated, it can dry out one’s skin. This can be prevented by drinking water. For those with oily skin, this side effect might be favorable.
• Itchiness
  When the skin is dry, it itches. The skin may appear flaky and red.
• Dizziness
  Another side effect of vaping devices is dizziness, especially if they’re using the Sub Ohm method.
• Allergies
  Allergic reactions could occur to the different flavorings and other chemicals. Propylene Glycol or Vegetable Glycerin may be the cause.
• Canker sores
  Vaping itself isn’t the cause of this side effect but the user’s personal hygiene is. You should keep the vaping mouthpiece clean to prevent canker sores.

Continued use of e-cigs over a long period could lead to damaging effects on the cardiovascular system. Below are the long-term side effects of using e-cigs:

• Heart disease
• Inflammation of lungs (asthma)
• Congenital Disabilities on pregnant women
• Cancer
• Accidental nicotine poisoning

Frequently Asked Questions About Quitting Smoking Timeline

How Long Does It Take to Quit Smoking?

For some people, it takes a matter of days, weeks, or months before they finally boot the habit for good. For others, it may take a lifetime, and they might even relapse.

Is Vaping Good for Quitting Smoking and Improving Health?

Vaping has many supporters who say it helped them quit smoking, and there is merit to what they say. However, those who are considering giving up tobacco should understand that they may be replacing one bad habit with another because nicotine is addictive in every form, whether it be vapes or cigarettes.

According to the study, vaping is many times healthier than cigarettes, and that there is significant evidence to support the assertion vaping can help those who want to improve their health.

What is the Hardest Day When You Quit Smoking?

The first week is the hardest time for those participating in a smoking cessation program, especially if they are quitting smoking cold turkey, meaning all at once.

The reason why the first week is the hardest is that people are used to the habit, and their brains are dependent on receiving daily amounts of nicotine. However, each day without a cigarette or tobacco in any form increases one’s health, and the chances of successfully quitting and improving their health outcomes increase after one week.

How Long Does It Take for Your Body to Adjust After Quitting Smoking?

That depends on what a person means by “adjust.” As shown by the timeline above, it can take up to ten years for a person to fully recover from the effects of cigarette use physically.

Mentally, it can take days, months, or a lifetime. But, it is crucial to get past the first week without cigarette use because a person is nine times more likely to successfully quit if they can make it that long smoke-free.

Even if a person smokes a cigarette while in a tobacco cessation program or quitting cold turkey, it is not the end of the world. Bounce back and try again while identifying the reasons for the relapse.

How Long After You Quit Smoking Are You Considered a non-Smoker?

A person with the right mentality will consider him or herself a non-smoker the first second after quitting. However, the nicotine withdrawal symptoms can be very intense during the first two to seven days after quitting.

They may not disappear for two or three months, depending on the person, which is why it is important to stay goal-focused and find productive ways of dealing with cravings.

How Long Does Smoker’s Flu Last?

Smoker’s flu is not the same thing as influenza, but some of the symptoms are the same, and they can appear on a quitting smoking timeline. They can include:

• Coughing
• Brain Fog
• Agitation and Anxiety
• Tingling in the Extremities
• Intense Nicotine Cravings
• Dizziness
• Tightness in the Chest
• Insomnia
• Constipation
• Headaches

Many of these symptoms are very unpleasant, and they may feel like the seasonal flu, but they are most likely the feelings of withdrawal. They are not the sign of a health emergency and are temporary and are most common during the first few days after quitting.

Some of these symptoms, like tingling in the extremities, tightness in the chest, and headaches can be quite alarming. Anyone who has these symptoms and has already been diagnosed with a medical condition that can result in a heart attack or stroke should contact a physician immediately or schedule regular doctor appointments to head off a severe health emergency.

What Happens to Your Skin When You Quit Smoking?

Smokers usually get wrinkles and blemishes sooner than people who do not smoke. A person who quits using cigarettes can expect his or her skin to clear up and for wrinkles to stop appearing. An improved physical appearance is one of the primary benefits of quitting tobacco.

How Long Does It Take to Quit Smoking?

For some people, it takes a matter of days, weeks, or months before they finally boot the habit for good. For others, it may take a lifetime, and they might even relapse.

Is Vaping Good for Quitting Smoking and Improving Health?

Vaping has many supporters who say it helped them quit smoking, and there is merit to what they say. However, those who are considering giving up tobacco should understand that they may be replacing one bad habit with another because nicotine is addictive in every form, whether it be vapes or cigarettes.

According to the study, vaping is many times healthier than cigarettes, and that there is significant evidence to support the assertion vaping can help those who want to improve their health.

What is the Hardest Day When You Quit Smoking?

The first week is the hardest time for those participating in a smoking cessation program, especially if they are quitting smoking cold turkey, meaning all at once.

The reason why the first week is the hardest is that people are used to the habit, and their brains are dependent on receiving daily amounts of nicotine. However, each day without a cigarette or tobacco in any form increases one’s health, and the chances of successfully quitting and improving their health outcomes increase after one week.

How Long Does It Take for Your Body to Adjust After Quitting Smoking?

That depends on what a person means by “adjust.” As shown by the timeline above, it can take up to ten years for a person to fully recover from the effects of cigarette use physically.

Mentally, it can take days, months, or a lifetime. But, it is crucial to get past the first week without cigarette use because a person is nine times more likely to successfully quit if they can make it that long smoke-free.

Even if a person smokes a cigarette while in a tobacco cessation program or quitting cold turkey, it is not the end of the world. Bounce back and try again while identifying the reasons for the relapse.

How Long After You Quit Smoking Are You Considered a non-Smoker?

A person with the right mentality will consider him or herself a non-smoker the first second after quitting. However, the nicotine withdrawal symptoms can be very intense during the first two to seven days after quitting.

They may not disappear for two or three months, depending on the person, which is why it is important to stay goal-focused and find productive ways of dealing with cravings.

How Long Does Smoker’s Flu Last?

Smoker’s flu is not the same thing as influenza, but some of the symptoms are the same, and they can appear on a quitting smoking timeline. They can include:

• Coughing
• Brain Fog
• Agitation and Anxiety
• Tingling in the Extremities
• Intense Nicotine Cravings
• Dizziness
• Tightness in the Chest
• Insomnia
• Constipation
• Headaches

Many of these symptoms are very unpleasant, and they may feel like the seasonal flu, but they are most likely the feelings of withdrawal. They are not the sign of a health emergency and are temporary and are most common during the first few days after quitting.

Some of these symptoms, like tingling in the extremities, tightness in the chest, and headaches can be quite alarming. Anyone who has these symptoms and has already been diagnosed with a medical condition that can result in a heart attack or stroke should contact a physician immediately or schedule regular doctor appointments to head off a severe health emergency.

What Happens to Your Skin When You Quit Smoking?

Smokers usually get wrinkles and blemishes sooner than people who do not smoke. A person who quits using cigarettes can expect his or her skin to clear up and for wrinkles to stop appearing. An improved physical appearance is one of the primary benefits of quitting tobacco.

Closing Thoughts About Quitting Smoking Timeline

Quitting tobacco is one of the hardest things a person will do in his or her life. Intense withdrawal symptoms will be experienced, causing a person to smoke to make them stop. No matter how bad withdrawals get, do not give into them. During that first week, focus on the benefits and rewards of being smoke-free, and do not give in to the temptation.

The first week is the hardest, but if a person can get through that, there is a huge chance that they will be smoke-free for life. Think about how lung cancer, blood clotting, and other diseases and disorders will be avoided when cravings start.

If you are an ex-smoker and have successfully booted the habit, please let us know what techniques you used to achieve success. Your comments about our quitting smoking timeline and how your health improved after you gave up the habit will be highly appreciated. Also, tips that help people are also helpful.

Quitting tobacco is one of the hardest things a person will do in his or her life. Intense withdrawal symptoms will be experienced, causing a person to smoke to make them stop. No matter how bad withdrawals get, do not give into them. During that first week, focus on the benefits and rewards of being smoke-free, and do not give in to the temptation.

The first week is the hardest, but if a person can get through that, there is a huge chance that they will be smoke-free for life. Think about how lung cancer, blood clotting, and other diseases and disorders will be avoided when cravings start.

If you are an ex-smoker and have successfully booted the habit, please let us know what techniques you used to achieve success. Your comments about our quitting smoking timeline and how your health improved after you gave up the habit will be highly appreciated. Also, tips that help people are also helpful.