What happens if I stop smoking?

Prepared by: Social Responsibility Department at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center

* After 20 minutes of stopping smoking, blood circulation begins to improve.

* After 8 hours, the blood can carry more oxygen after half the amount of carbon monoxide and nicotine has been removed from it.

* After 24 hours, the red blood cells become fully loaded with oxygen after carbon monoxide has been completely eliminated.

* After two days, no trace of nicotine remains in the body.

* After two weeks, the heart rate and blood pressure return to normal.

* In the first 3-5 years, the risk of heart disease and heart attack decreases significantly compared to smokers, reaching the normal rate as it is among non-smokers, after about 10-15 years. The rate of fatal coronary heart disease also decreases by (36%) upon quitting. About smoking.

* After 10-15 years, the risk of lung cancer decreases by half compared to smokers.

People often wonder: Is smoking light or filter cigarettes less dangerous? The truth is that the danger of smoking continues in this type of cigarette, because the smoker takes continuous deep breaths, which causes blockage of the ventilation holes in the cigarette filter. It is no less dangerous, and smoking a hookah is no less dangerous than cigarettes. In fact, one tip of a shisha (Jarak) or hookah (moassal) is equivalent to smoking 40 cigarettes. Hookah or hookah smokers are more at risk of heart disease and cancers of the lung, lips, mouth, and bladder.