After 20 Minutes:
After 8 Hours:
After 48 Hours:
After 72 Hours
After 1 Week
After 2 - 12 Weeks
After 3 - 9 Months
After 1 Year: Your risk of heart disease drops by 50% compared to when you smoked.
Within 2 - 5 Years
Within 5 Years
After 10 Years
Your body starts repairing itself almost immediately. Damaged tissues begin to heal, your immune system strengthens, and your lungs function better. The longer you stay smoke-free, the more your risk of disease. However, as you have just started, quitting smoking affects both your body and your mind. Here are some common symptoms:
You may experience strong urges to smoke, especially in the first few days. These cravings often come and go in waves and are usually triggered by habits or routines linked to smoking. While intense at first, cravings usually weaken after a week and continue to reduce over time. Learning to identify and avoid triggers can help. Many people choose to quit cigarettes gradually by switching to vaping, as vaping allows you to relieve the cravings under control.
Nicotine affects brain chemicals linked to mood. When you quit, it’s normal to feel more irritable, anxious, or even down for a while. You might also feel emotionally sensitive or easily frustrated. These changes are temporary and part of your brain adjusting to life without nicotine.
Many people report difficulty focusing or falling asleep after quitting. This is partly due to nicotine withdrawal, which disrupts your brain’s routine. Sleep tends to improve after a couple of weeks as your body adjusts.
You might feel on edge or fidgety, especially during moments where you’d usually smoke. Physical activity, breathing exercises, or even squeezing a stress ball can help release this nervous energy.
Quitting smoking may increase your appetite or lead to eating more often as a way to cope with cravings. While not everyone gains weight, it’s common to put on a few pounds. Choosing healthy snacks and staying active can help keep your weight in check.
You may develop a cough as your lungs begin to clear out mucus and toxins. Headaches, dizziness, and digestive changes like constipation can also occur but usually improve within a few weeks.
Smoking is costly. If you smoked a pack a day, quitting could save you over £3,500 per year. That’s money you can redirect toward holidays, personal goals, family activities, or savings. Even cutting down saves hundreds over time, but quitting altogether brings the biggest financial boost. Read our blog on How Much Do Vapes Cost to understand the expenses of vaping compared to cigarettes.
Quitting smoking isn’t just good for your body—it can also improve your mental well-being. Many people report feeling calmer, happier, and more in control after they quit. Studies show that quitting smoking is linked to reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress over the long term.
You may also feel proud of yourself for taking a big step toward better health. This boost in confidence can have a positive effect on your relationships and daily life.
Withdrawal is tough, but it’s manageable. Symptoms peak around 2–3 days and start fading after the first week.
Cravings for cigarettes
Irritability or mood swings
Trouble sleeping or concentrating
Restlessness or anxiety
Headaches
Increased appetite
Some people use vaping to help quit smoking. While not risk-free, vaping is considered far less harmful than smoking cigarettes.
It can certainly be an effective tool to help you quit smoking. For many, it serves as a stepping stone toward complete nicotine independence. However, it’s best to treat vaping as a transition rather than a permanent solution. Over time, you may wish to gradually reduce your nicotine level and eventually stop vaping altogether.
To get the most out of your switch, always use high-quality, regulated products from trusted brands. Whether you prefer refillable vape kits, pods, or disposables, our store offers a wide selection to support every stage of your quit journey. If you’re unsure where to start, browse our best-sellers or contact our support team for expert guidance.
Taking the step to quit smoking and start vaping is a positive move—both for your health and your future. Let vaping be the bridge to a smoke-free life.
At WizVape, we’re here to support your smoke-free journey with unbeatable Quit Smoking Vape Deals. When you buy any vape kit from us, you’ll receive free e-liquid—the perfect way to get started without the extra cost. Whether you're new to vaping or switching from cigarettes, our bundles are designed to make your transition as smooth as possible.
£23.99
£12.99
Looking for more savings? We also offer regular discounts on everything you need to keep going strong: from 5 for £11 nic salts and vape juice to coils such as Aspire Pockex coils, pods, and disposable vapes. Our deals are updated frequently, so be sure to check our site often and take advantage of the best prices on your favourite vape products.
5 for £11
So, what happens when you quit smoking? Your body begins to heal, your mind feels clearer, and your bank balance grows. Whether you go cold turkey or use vaping to transition, every step toward quitting brings huge rewards. Don’t wait—start your smoke-free journey today.
When you quit smoking and start vaping, your body begins recovering from tobacco damage within hours. You'll experience improved breathing, better taste and smell, increased energy, reduced coughing, better circulation, and healthier skin. Vaping provides nicotine without the 7000+ harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke, supporting cessation while managing cravings.
Benefits appear rapidly: within 20 minutes heart rate normalizes, within 8 hours oxygen levels improve, within 24 hours carbon monoxide clears from blood, within 48 hours taste and smell start returning, within 72 hours breathing becomes easier, and within 2-3 weeks circulation and lung function significantly improve.
Nicotine cravings are significantly reduced with vaping as it delivers nicotine efficiently, especially with nic salts. However, you may experience mild cravings initially due to missing the ritual, hand-to-mouth habit, or psychological associations with smoking. These typically diminish within 2-4 weeks.
Switching to vaping minimizes withdrawal compared to quitting entirely, but you may experience: slight irritability for 2-3 days, mild headaches, temporary increased cough (lungs clearing tar), slight sleep disruption, and psychological adjustment to new routine. These are much milder than cold-turkey quitting.
Yes, studies show vaping is nearly twice as effective as other nicotine replacement therapies for quitting smoking. It addresses both nicotine addiction and behavioral habits, providing hand-to-mouth action, throat hit, and social ritual similar to smoking while eliminating tar and combustion toxins.
Weight gain is less likely when switching to vaping compared to quitting entirely, as vaping maintains nicotine intake which suppresses appetite and maintains metabolism. However, returning taste and smell may increase food enjoyment, so mindful eating helps maintain weight.
Most people stop craving cigarettes within 2-4 weeks of consistent vaping, though psychological triggers may persist longer. Using appropriate nicotine strength (20mg nic salts for heavy smokers) and MTL devices that mimic cigarette draw accelerates the transition and reduces cigarette cravings.
For 20+ cigarettes daily: use 20mg nic salts for strong satisfaction. For 10-20 cigarettes daily: start with 10-20mg nic salts. For under 10 cigarettes: try 6-10mg. Use MTL pod devices like Vaporesso Xros or OXVA Xlim that mimic cigarette draw for best results.
Yes, lungs begin healing immediately after stopping smoking. Cilia (tiny hairs) start recovering within days, clearing mucus and tar buildup. Lung function improves significantly within 3-9 months. While vaping isn't risk-free, it eliminates the tar, carbon monoxide, and thousands of combustion chemicals that damage lungs.
Increased coughing in the first 1-2 weeks is normal and positive—your lungs are clearing accumulated tar and mucus as cilia recover and work properly again. This 'smoker's cough' will improve. Stay hydrated, use appropriate nicotine strength, and ensure you're not vaping at too high wattage.
Yes, massive savings are possible. Smoking 20 cigarettes daily costs £150-180 monthly. Vaping costs £20-50 monthly (device + e-liquid or pods). Annual savings of £1200-1500+ are typical, with refillable systems offering even greater savings than prefilled pods or disposables.
Yes, one of the most noticeable benefits is eliminating cigarette smell from your breath, clothes, hair, home, and car within days. Vaping produces vapour with pleasant or neutral scent that dissipates quickly, unlike lingering tobacco smoke odor.
Common temporary side effects include: dry mouth and throat (drink more water), mild headaches (nicotine adjustment), increased cough (lung clearing), mouth ulcers or sore throat (PG sensitivity—try high VG), and slight dizziness (nicotine strength adjustment). Most resolve within 2-4 weeks.
Choose MTL (mouth-to-lung) devices that mimic cigarette draw: pod systems like Vaporesso Xros, OXVA Xlim, or Aspire PockeX with 20mg nic salt e-liquids. Avoid sub-ohm devices initially—tight-draw MTL devices with higher nicotine provide most satisfying cigarette replacement.
You can get expert guidance, device recommendations, and ongoing support at WizVape, offering starter kits perfect for ex-smokers, nic salt e-liquids in cigarette-replacement strengths, and knowledgeable staff to help you successfully transition from smoking to vaping.
