
The benefits of quitting
When you give up smoking, your body starts going through good changes right away!
- Within 20 minutes of your last cigarette1
Your blood pressure and heart rate drops to a normal rate for you.
- 12 hours
The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
- 2 weeks to 3 months
Your circulation improves. Lung function increases.
- 1 to 9 months
There's less coughing, sinus congestion, tiredness, and shortness of breath. Cilia (tiny hairs) re-grow in your lungs to better handle mucous, clean your lungs, and reduce infection.
- 1 year after quitting
Your extra risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
- 5 to 15 years
Your stroke risk goes down to that of a nonsmoker.
- 10 years after quitting
The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a person who still smokes. Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas goes down.
- 15 years after quitting
Your risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.
References
1 American Cancer Society. When Smokers Quit – What are the Benefits Over Time? Retrieved November 2, 2010.