Is Damage From Smoking Reversible?
According to the South African Heart and Stroke Foundation, within 5 – 15 years the risk of heart disease in a person who has quit smoking is the same as a non-smoker. The ex- smoker’s body recovers and heals itself amazingly quickly. Consider these statistics: Within 8 hours of quitting, blood oxygen and carbon monoxide levels normalize. Within 24 hours the risk of a heart attack or stroke starts to decrease. Soon after quitting, after about 2 days, the nerve endings and the sense of taste and smell start to recover. Within 72 hours lung capacity improves and coughing decreases. Within a few days blood clotting improves and exercise becomes easier. Within 1 to 3 months blood circulation and sperm count in men improves. After a couple of months there is a vast improvement in energy levels and general feeling of well-being. Within 5 years, the risk of developing lung cancer is halved. Added to this is the curbing of the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke. In women, the risk of ear
