When you give up smoking, your body starts going through good changes right away! Let's take a quick look at some changes based on information from the American Cancer Society.

AFTER:

• Your blood pressure drops to a normal rate for you.
• The temperature of your hands and feet increases to normal.

• The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• The oxygen level in your blood goes up to normal.

• Your chance of a heart attack goes down.

• Nerve endings start re-growing.
• Ability to smell and taste begins to improve.

• Your circulation improves.
• Walking gets easier.
• Your lungs perform up to 30 percent better.

• There's less coughing, sinus congestion, tiredness, and shortness of breath.
• Cilia (tiny hairs) re-grow in your lungs to better handle mucous, clean your lungs, and reduce infection.

• Your extra risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

• Your stroke risk goes down to that of a nonsmoker.

• The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a person who still smokes.
• Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas goes down.

• Your risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.

• How many years you smoked.
• How many cigarettes you smoked each day.
• The age you began smoking.
• Whether or not you have cancer or another illness when you quit.

I love helping people make that important step toward quitting. Often when people call, they tell me they want to quit but don’t think they can. After we talk and come up with strategies, I love hearing them say, “I can do this!” at the end of the call. I try to help people realize they have the strength to quit smoking and I feel honored to be a part of something that will not only improve their health, but their lives.