# Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking And Tips - Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/09/health-benefits-of-quitting-smoking-and-tips/ - Published: 2022-09-06T10:13:39-04:00 - Author: greenlivingguy Quitting smoking may seem impossible, but it comes with a lot of benefits. When you decide to quit smoking, you take a big step towards a healthier body. For every cigarette you quit, you extend your life by five minutes. Need more reasons to quit? Check out all the benefits of giving up smoking! Here are tips on what you can do to quit. ![](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/elnaz-asadi- xeh7AUTdKIc-unsplash.jpg?resize=369%2C420&quality=52&ssl=1 "elnaz-asadi-xeh7AUTdKIc- unsplash - The Green Living Guy") There are more than 8,000 harmful substances in tobacco smoke, of which 60 substances can cause cancer. When you inhale the smoke into your lungs, these substances enter your blood. As soon as you decide to quit smoking, you are doing your health a favor. The body begins to recover already 20 minutes after you have smoked your last cigarette– and that is precisely why it is never too late to quit. In addition to that, you get a better economy, you live longer, you get finer skin, it’s easier to breathe, and your sense of smell and taste improves. * [Set a date when you will quit](https://marioncountyhealthdept.org/education-prevention/tobacco/setting-a-quit-date-deciding-on-a-plan/). * Throw away all your cigarettes when you’ve made up your mind. * Make a list of the benefits of not smoking. * Avoid certain places and situations that you associate with smoking at first. * Find something else to do when you feel like it. * Get help from friends and family. * Eat and drink properly. * Write down when you smoke, if you fall into it, about how it felt to smoke and what it gave you. ## Quitting tobacco is good for your health Just 20 minutes after you stop smoking, your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal. The temperature in the hands and feet improves thanks to increased blood circulation. Twenty-four hours after your last cigarette, the risk of a heart attack starts to decrease. Two days after you stop smoking, your sense of taste and smell improves. Two days after you quit smoking, the carbon monoxide disappears from your body, and your lungs begin to clear out other toxins from smoking. A week after your last puff, the nicotine has disappeared from your body. After four to six months, the risk of suffering a blood clot is less than when you smoked, and if you have snuffed, your mucosal changes are healing. After one year as a non- smoker, the risk of heart attack is halved compared to if you smoked. After ten years, the risk of lung cancer has decreased by 70 percent. ## You save money About 2000 dollars a year if you are a smoker and consume a pack daily. In addition, you also [save society and your employer money](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/12/tenant-star-could-save-landlords-and-tenants-money/)( around SEK 45,000 a year) if you quit. On average, a smoker has eight more sick days yearly than [a non-smoker](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonsmoker). ## You will feel fresher Smoking stains the teeth. Smoking also leads to yellow fingernails, bad breath, plus a gloomy, somewhat red-streaked, and grey-stained complexion. It’s also not so sexy with a constant accompanying smell. This is why a lot of people have turned to nicotine pouches which are a much healthier [alternative](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/06/8-practical-ways-to-cope-with-eco-anxiety/). Nicotine is non-combustible and does not cause any harm to the lungs. Moreover, they are completely free from tobacco. As a result, they are a much healthier alternative to get that nicotine kick. And it has proven to be a very useful substitute for when you are struggling to quit, according to [Swenico](https://www.swenico.se/). ## And prettier Smoking gives rise to several unattractive bodily attributes. Apart from bad breath and discolored teeth, smokers often have bad skin, poorer hair quality, and more wrinkles. In addition, female smokers often have increased hair on their arms. ## Tobacco farms are harmful to the environment Deforestation, carbon dioxide emissions, and [toxic pesticides and chemicals](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/05/lowes-home-flooring-eliminates-toxic-chemicals/) are all products of tobacco farming. According to the [World Health Organization](https://www.who.int/), tobacco production is the biggest cause of deforestation in many countries. ## You live longer In addition to all the reasons listed above, a cigarette, on average, shortens your life by 14 minutes. So, all in all, maybe time to get rid of the need. If you need help, there are a lot of organizations and services that can support you in your decision. The stop-smoking line and the Care Guide, to name a few. **_Author: Bella Clarks_** ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/df91669667126e1290c21ee0342c386e2da19d588d4d9ca6560bd82ed59a9641? s=300&d=monsterid&r=g) greenlivingguy The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author, Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke # Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow. [See Full Bio](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/) [ ](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/)