What Happens When You Stop Smoking Cigarettes?

Mark Twain once said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times." Maybe this is you, a smoker determined to put down that last cigarette for the final time, only to find yourself defeated again by the cravings and withdrawal symptoms. There is hope, provided you have the desire to quit for good. A big part of your success lies in knowing what to expect, how long to expect it and the benefits that follow soon after smoking your final cigarette.

Physical Withdrawal Symptoms

According to the American Cancer Society, withdrawal symptoms typically begin within a couple of hours after smoking your last cigarette and become the worst two to three days after quitting. Although they can last up to several weeks, the severity eases every day that you remain smoke-free.
According to The Ultimate Quit Smoking Guide, some of the physical symptoms you may experience include headaches due to your sinuses emptying, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath as your body clears the tar and residue from your system. The stress of depriving your body of its craving may cause shaking, sweating, stomach or body pains and insomnia.

Mental/Emotional Withdrawal Symptoms

According to the experts at QuitSmokingSupport.com, the first two weeks may be the hardest for you to cope with. Mental and emotional symptoms are just as prevalent as physical symptoms. These include feelings of dependency which results in mood swings or temper tantrums as you refuse to give your body what it's used to, irritability, anxiety, mental confusion and even depression. Depression is typically felt in both the short and long term; it can be compared to mourning the loss of a loved one.

Immediate Benefits

As soon as you quit smoking, benefits begin to take place, which you may not realize because of the withdrawal symptoms you are experiencing. Knowing what these benefits are may give you the strength you need to keep pushing forward toward success. According to the American Cancer Society, some of the immediate benefits include better smelling breath, improved sense of smell and taste, teeth whitening, reduced yellowing of your fingers and fingernails and easier breathing.

Long-Term Benefits

In addition to the immediate benefits, there are long-term health benefits that continue over the span of your lifetime. According to the American Cancer Society, within the first 24 hours, your heart and blood pressure rates drop and your carbon monoxide levels return to normal. Within the first three months, your circulation increases and your lungs begin to function as they were meant to. Once you reach your first year anniversary, you have a decreased risk of developing an infection and your risk of developing coronary heart disease is slashed in half.