Jenifer,
I promise you are over the worst part! After you eat, try drinking a glass of ice water. For some reason, ice water helped more than anything.
I also keep this list beside my computer, and I "check" off stages after I go through them. It sounds silly, but it makes me feel like I am actually "doing" something.
20 MINUTES (after you stop smoking)
Blood pressure drops to normal.
Pulse rate drops to normal.
Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal.
8 HOURS
Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal.
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal.
24 HOURS
Chance of heart attack decreases.
48 HOURS
Nerve endings start regrowing.
Ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
2 WEEKS TO 3 MONTHS
Circulation improves.
Walking becomes easier.
Lung function increases up to 30%.
1 TO 9 MONTHS
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease.
Cilia regrow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection.
Body's overall energy increases.
1 YEAR
Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.
5 YEARS
Lung cancer death rate for average smoker (one pack a day) decreases by almost half.
Stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years after quitting.
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus is half that of a smoker's.
10 YEARS
Lung cancer death rate similar to that of nonsmokers.
Precancerous cells are replaced.
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases.
15 YEARS
Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker.
Right now, I am at the 1-9 month phase, and can tell a huge difference in my breathing. At about 2 weeks, I felt like I was coughing more (and coughing some nasty crap too
) and it took about a week for that to pass. Once that was over, I really started feeling good.
