Do you know that in just the first hour after you stop smoking your pulse rate and blood pressure decrease, while the internal temperature of your hands and feet will increase? Smoking on the other hand constricts blood vessels, while raising the heart rate, because of the compounds produced within the body. Once you flush these toxins from the body, it will return to its normal state of being.

Within just a few hours, the levels of carbon monoxide in the blood will return to normal. Smoking exposes you to CO, which binds with hemoglobin - the molecule that helps transport oxygen through the blood stream. However, this will reduce the amount of oxygen available. The CO levels will decrease, which will increase the available oxygen, while encouraging it to do its job properly, but feeding all the tissues, which work to sustain your life.

The risk of a heart attack will be on a downswing after the first 24 hours. Your nerve endings change, 48 hours after you stop smoking, since the stimulation induced by soaking them in nicotine reduces drastically. You begin to recover your natural sensations, while at the same time, your sense of smell and taste begins its recovery. You sense of smell is much sharper, while you notice that food tastes fresher than it has in a long while.

Within a couple of weeks, the craving for nicotine tapers off, only to return, if at all at random times over the following months. The circulatory system begins to recover, while gradually the ability to exercise without a shortness of breath or wheezing occurs. You will be able to once again exercise normally within the next few weeks and months, as you commence with a regular exercise routine.

The sinus congestion and hacking cough, common among smokers begins to decrease considerably over the next few months. Your overall energy level increases, while smoke induced fatigue begins to drop as your body systems regenerate to a peak level of functioning.

The risk of stroke drops suddenly, while you keep to your long-term commitment to stop smoking. Do you know that the risk doubles for smokers in comparison to non-smokers? Within a year, it drops by half. Within five to fifteen years, the risk drops down to the level of those who have never even picked up a cigarette.

Similar risks of larynx or lung cancer, pancreas, bladder and others will drop to that of a lifelong non-smoker. Studies show that 87% of lung cancers are those who are a long-term heavy smoker. When you stop smoking, you remove yourself from that group within a few short years.

Stopping smoking is a permanent commitment to long-term health. Its alternative leads to an increased risk of stroke, coronary disease, various cancers, COPD and other acute medical complications. You can beat the odds, when you stop smoking now!