No smoking day – The healthy employee

Posted on October 17, 2024

No smoking day

It’s never too late to quit smoking. Your body will begin to repair itself much faster than you think, leading to noticeable health changes from week to week. This is regardless of how long you smoke and how serious your habit is.

Just take a look at what happens after you put out that last cigarette.

STOP SMOKING? THIS IS HOW THE BODY CHANGES AFTER THE LAST CIGARETTE The image shows an extinguished cigarette butt on the right side. After 20 minutes, the pulse rate returns to normal. After 8 hours, nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood decrease by more than half and oxygen levels return to normal. After 48 hours, carbon monoxide will be eliminated from the body. The lungs begin to eliminate mucus and other smoldering debris. There is no more nicotine in the body. The ability to taste and smell is improved. After 72 hours, breathing becomes easier. The bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase. After 12 weeks, circulation is improved. After 9 months, coughing, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function increases by up to 10 percent. After 1 year, the risk of heart disease is about half that of a person who continues to smoke. After 15 years, the risk of heart attack becomes the same as that of a person who has never smoked. This text is presented in a structured format to show the timeline and benefits of quitting smoking at different intervals after the last cigarette.

It’s important that you celebrate all the different types of benefits that come with quitting smoking, like better-smelling clothes, more money, and happier loved ones!

Health risks of smoking

  • Smoking is one of the leading causes of death and disease in the UK.
  • Every year, around 78,000 people in the UK die from smoking, and even higher numbers suffer from debilitating smoking-related illnesses.
  • Smoking causes around 70% of lung cancer cases
  • Smoking causes cancer in many other parts of the body, including the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, bladder, intestine, cervix, kidneys, liver, stomach and the pancreas.
  • Smoking damages your heart and circulation, leading to an increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, stroke, damage to blood vessels, and damaged arteries that supply blood to your brain.
  • Smoking causes lung damage, leading to conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia.
  • Smoking worsens respiratory conditions such as asthma, infections and colds
  • Smoking can cause impotence and reduce your fertility

Health risks of passive smoking

  • Breathing second-hand smoke, also called passive smoking, increases the risk of suffering from the same health problems as smokers.
  • If you have never smoked but your partner does, your risk of developing lung cancer increases by about 25%.

Get help

It has been shown that people are more likely to give up when they receive support.

As part of our Wellbeing Roadshow, we offer a smoking and alcohol area. Our smoking and alcohol area is managed by experienced healthcare professionals who provide no-pressure advice and support. However, even if you smoke, this session gives you the knowledge and confidence to make positive, lasting changes to your well-being. Email us today to find out more, or give us a call 07810 716758 to discuss how we could help you.

Click here to get your free NHS Personal Quitting Plan.

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