What to Expect Once You Quit Smoking

At Matthews Internal Medicine, we work with many patients who want to quit smoking. For most of them, this is a decision they’ve made with their future health in mind. Many people know that quitting smoking can bring them a few health benefits. By quitting you can reduce your risk of developing heart disease and some types of cancer. You even make it less likely that you’ll have a stroke.

These are some of the biggest benefits of a successful smoking cessation program, but it’s hardly a complete list of the upsides to quitting this nasty habit. There are a wide variety of other positive things that you can expect to see once you’ve quit smoking. Here’s a look at a few of them.

Lesser-Known Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Whiter Teeth

The tar and some other ingredients found in cigarettes aren’t just unhealthy. They can also cause some superficial damage, like staining your teeth. Once you’ve quit, you’ll notice that your teeth will start looking whiter and brighter. You’ll receive more than a few compliments on your smile once you’ve thrown away the cigarettes.

Better Breath

On that same note, the ingredients in cigarettes are also notorious for giving people bad breath. Once you quit smoking them your breath will begin to smell better. Your fresh breath will match your whiter teeth. It won’t be long before people start to notice.

Better Sense of Smell and Taste

Successfully completing a smoking cessation effort can also result in more effective senses of taste and smell. Smoking cigarettes may have dulled these somewhat, but quitting will make everything smell and taste better. Soon you’ll be really enjoying food or a nice spring day again.

You’ll Get More Sleep

According to a recent study, former smokers could take less time to fall asleep than current smokers. That means that you could get more sleep and wake up well-rested and ready to tackle the day more often. Non-smokers also have less incidences of sleep disturbances than smokers do.

Your Clothes Will Smell Fresh

Once you’re not smoking, you’ll notice that your clothes smell better for longer. You’re not smoking dirty cigarettes while wearing them, which means that they’re not picking up that recognizable cigarette smell and hanging onto it.

Stronger Bones

Smoking can cause you to lose bone mass. By quitting, you can help avoid this problem and issues like osteoporosis later on in life.

Better Circulation

Once you quit smoking, your blood circulation will start to improve. Are your hands or feet frequently cold, even when the rest of your body isn’t? This is a common problem among smokers, and smoking cessation can help make it a thing of the past.

Better Immune System and Healing

After you quit smoking, you might notice that you get sick less often. Your immune system is operating at full capacity now, without unhealthy cigarettes holding it back. On that same note, your wounds could start healing a bit quicker than before.

Your Influence On Your Kids

If your kids see you quit smoking, that sets a good example for them. In some cases, they might be less likely to smoke cigarettes themselves. So you’re getting healthier while encouraging your children to live a healthier lifestyle. Experience these perks and more when you quit smoking today.