The health consequences of smoking range from chronic irritation of the bronchi to a weakened immune system and even lung cancer. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, just under a third of adult Germans smoke. Every smoker knows that smoking is bad for their health, but quitting the cigarette is difficult for many. The facts definitely speak in favor of quitting. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, 127,000 Germans die every year as a result of tobacco consumption. On average, heavy smokers lose ten years of their lives.
The good news: quitting smoking has positive effects on your health at any age. Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 substances, including tar, chromium, benzene, arsenic and lead. Some of these substances cause great damage to the body. Not reaching for a cigarette every day is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health.
Among other things, it reduces the risk of twelve types of cancer, including liver, stomach, esophagus and lung cancer. The body is able to recover even after decades of smoking, provided no permanent organic damage has occurred. Statistically, people who start giving up nicotine between the ages of 25 and 35 extend their life by ten years. Life expectancy increases by four years if they stop smoking between the ages of 55 and 64.
Quitting smoking: first effects quickly noticeable 01:16mins
With these three tips you may soon stop smoking
New non-smokers can notice some effects relatively soon after the last cigarette: food tastes better, the sense of smell normalizes, breath and hair smell better. The body needs a little longer for some effects, as a cohort study with 8,770 participants from the USA shows. Almost 2,400 test subjects were heavy smokers – when they stopped smoking, their risk of cardiovascular disease in the first five years without cigarettes was reduced by almost 40 percent.
It took the test subjects ten, 15 and in some cases 25 years to have the same low risk as lifelong non-smokers and lifelong non-smokers. We show what happens in the body after the last cigarette in the picture gallery.
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Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
