Ana Perez Ballesta, a Spanish doctor, reported that the risk of a heart attack begins to decrease within 24 hours of quitting smoking. Within 48 hours, the nerve endings in the airways begin to regenerate. The expert's words were quoted by 20minutos.
According to the specialist, the first positive changes occur almost immediately. Just 20 minutes after smoking the last cigarette, the pulse returns to normal and the heart begins to work less. After 24 hours, the level of carbon monoxide in the blood drops by about half, the level of oxygen increases, and the risk of heart attack begins to decrease.
After two days, Ballesta notes, the nerve endings in the airways begin to regenerate, resulting in improved senses of smell and taste. After a few weeks, the changes in the lungs become noticeable. the cilia of the respiratory tract begin to clean the lungs more effectively, the frequency of infections decreases, and breathing becomes easier.
"Lung function can improve by about 10%, which is especially important for people suffering from bronchitis and other respiratory diseases," says the doctor.
In the long term, quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of stroke, dementia and several types of cancer. The doctor emphasizes that quitting smoking is not easy, but the health benefits begin almost immediately, which can be an additional motivation for those considering quitting.
