I quit!

Here's a rundown on what your body will go thorugh as you quit.

IN MINUTES

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Youve decided on your new years resolution. This year you have vowed to quit smoking. Its easy to say, but harder to do.

Nicotine creates a chemical dependency, so that the body develops a need for a certain level of nicotine at all times. Unless that level is maintained, the body will begin to go through withdrawal similar to alcohol addiction withdrawal. For tobacco users trying to quit, symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine are unpleasant and stressful, but only temporary. Most withdrawal symptoms peak 48 hours after you quit and are completely gone in six months.

The rst 3 days

20 min 1 hr 8 hrs Day 1

Carbon monoxide is completely removed from your body.

as in as soon ptoms beg rette, generl sym Withdrawa fter the last ciga a o ve days four hours intensity at three t months. ally peak in mpletely gone in six and are co

Day 2

Day 3

Heart rate drops. Blood pressure returns to levels near those before your last cigarette.

Circulation improves; Hands and feet feel warmer; may tingle.

Weeks turn into months, months into years

Week 1 Week 2 1 month

Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels fall. Oxygen levels in your body return to normal, helping replenish dried-out skin and hair caused by smoking.

Your lungs begin to work better and start to clear out excess mucus and any other smoking debris. You may notice you have a cough or sore throat as new lung tissue starts to grow. You may feel light-headed for the rst 48 hours as the carbon monoxide leaves your system.

Within the rst 48 hours, you begin to experience the worst symptoms of withdrawal. Taste and sense of smell improve. Your chances of having a heart attack begin to decrease.

3 months

1 year

5 YEARS
Quitters will experience about three You may get more irritable and depressed. Withdrawl symptoms have cue-induced craving episodes per stopped. Breathing and energy 60% of quitters said they su ered from day by day seven. Episodes will last these side-e ects within four weeks of giving levels improve. Lung regeneration about three minutes each. On day starts. Cilia, tiny hair-like up smoking. Cravings may get stronger. 10, cravings are down to two per Blood circulation in your gums and teeth are structures that move mucus out day, and last less than of the lungs, regain function. now similar to that of a non-user. three minutes each. Your cough has disappeared and your appetite will start to increase. Your risk of heart disease will have dropped by 50%.

Energy levels increase. You will not experience extreme shortness of breath, especially while exercising. Craving episodes will peak, Your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will have passed through your urine.

The number of smokers from 2005 to 2010 has increased by

1.5%

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Your risk of dying from lung cancer is half that of a smoker's. Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas also decreases. Your risk of heart disease is now the same as someone who doesn't smoke.

10 YEARS

Your risk of having a stroke is the same as someone who doesn't smoke.

15 YEARS

Many of the symptoms quitters experience are the result of the nervous system returning to normal.

SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1; INFOGRAPHIC BY LINDSAY OUELLETTE/QMI AGENCY