You have finally decided that smoking is not right for you and thus you want to know what changes you can expect. First things first, congratulations on your decision to get rid of the habit and towards a healthier you. The body will react to your decision within a few minutes and continues to react on a daily basis. The determination is what you require and the knowledge of the changes is what you are here for. Read on for the highlights of your new found healing process.

The one thing that is necessary here is that you quit and never look back. Your body will react to the stopping phase in as little as 20 minutes by lowering your blood pressure to normal levels. Interesting is it not? Yes, if you smoke every hour or so that happens too...but we are about to embark on a long journey through the results you will notice in regular intervals. Congratulations again on your decision. By now the first 20 minutes are over and your body is already healing.http://www.aadac.com/87_1194.asp http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5745a2.htm

We already know that 20 minutes will start to normalize your blood pressure. Now lets take a look in detail as to what happens in regular intervals:

1. In 8 hours the carbon monoxide levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal.
2. In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. Nicotine will have left your body and your sense of taste and smell will return.
3. In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will take a breather (pun intended), and your energy levels will increase dramatically...you will feel like a new person.
4. In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to increase gradually over the next 10 weeks.
5. In three to nine months coughing, wheezing, and breathing problems will improve as your lung capacity improves by 10-15%.
6. In one year, your chances of having a heart attack will have dropped by 50%.
7. In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a normal non-smoker.
8. In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
9. In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/

The explanation above has definitely gotten you started and you want to make sure that it doesn't stop. Make sure that you let everyone around you, smoker or not, know that you are quitting and that you will need all of the support you require. Call your doctor and schedule an appointment, discuss what aids he/she can provide to help you on the course to recovery. There are a lot of state funded facilities that you can call or visit to help you when you have that ultimate craving.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nicotine-dependence/DS00307 Use them - they work. Remove everything around you that would tempt you to pick up a cigarette. Be creative, as there are many ways to quit. Maybe join a forum online, start a blog, come to Mahalo, etc.

The last and final thing to remember is that you should keep reminding yourself of the benefits of quitting and the changes that you body is going through. Your body will regain its sense of smell and taste and it will tempt you to try new foods and perhaps eat more. It is quite possible that you will gain a bit of weight, but the cost is minimal considering how much you are gaining from quitting smoking.

The best of luck on your journey.