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.

¹ American Cancer Society. When Smokers Quit – What are the Benefits Over Time? Retrieved November 2, 2010.