The Short-Term Benefits of Stopping Smoking

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Laboratorinė medicina. 2017,
t. 19,
Nr. 2,
p. 143 -
146

Stopping smoking is possibly the single most important step a person can take to improve their well-being, whatever their age. Despite the benefits of smoking cessation being self-evident, however, because of the long time horizon of benefits generally associated with smoking cessation, more acute gains from stopping smoking may be more moiivating. This briefing summarises evidence relating to short-term positive consequences of smok­ing cessation, covering quick gains within the first year of stopping smoking related to physical and mental health, financial, behavioural and cosmetic improvements. Within one month of stopping smoking there is improvement in lung function, cardiovascular system function, reproductive, gastrointenstinal and other systems functions. Cessation before, or during, pregnancy reduces the risk of low birth babies, perinatal death and preterm delivery. The only group of diseases that carry no short-term benefits following cessation are neoplastic diseases. Smoking cessation is as­sociated with a number of oral conditions such as bad breath, stained teeth, periodontal disease, and skin - nail changes, and these tend to be quickly reversible in the early stages after smoking cessation. Anxiety levels start to decrease from one week after quitting while ex-smokers suffer less from anxiety and depression than continuing smokers. Ex-smokers also appear to become more self-confident and to engage in other healthy life choices after quitting smoking.

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