Smoking Damages Lungs, Heart Within Days of First Cigarette

Smoking is when people breathe in smoke from cigarettes, and many think it only hurts you after many years.

Experts say that is not true — even the very first cigarette starts damaging your body.

Smoke affects your lungs, heart, and blood vessels within days.

You might not feel any symptoms, but the damage is still happening inside.

There is no safe amount of smoking, not even one cigarette per day or smoking only at parties.

Early signs of harm include coughing, feeling out of breath on stairs, and getting chest infections.

The good news is that when someone quits smoking, the body starts repairing itself almost right away.

Quitting early gives the best health benefits, so it is never too late to stop.