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Quit Guide: Quitting

Remember the Instant Rewards of Quitting

Your body begins to heal within 20 minutes after your last cigarette. The poison gas and nicotine start to leave your body. Your pulse rate goes back to normal. The oxygen in your blood rises to a normal level.
Within a few days you may notice other things:

  • Your senses of taste and smell are better.
  • You can breathe easier.
  • Your "smoker's hack" starts to go away. (You may keep coughing for a while, though.)

The nicotine leaves your body within three days. Your body starts to repair itself. At first, you may feel worse instead of better. Withdrawal feelings can be hard. But they are a sign that your body is healing.

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In the Quit Guide...
Thinking about quitting
Why quit?
What's in a cigarette?
Reasons for quitting
Why is quitting so hard?
Preparing to quit
The basic steps
Medicines that can help
Other support
Quitting
Steps on quit day
•Managing cravings
Withdrawal symptoms
What to do if you slip
Staying quit
Sticking with it
Resources if you slip
NCI NIH HHS USA.gov