The Benefits of Quitting Smoking
Did you know that you could notice the health benefits in less than one hour after quitting smoking? If you were to quit smoking right now…
In 20 minutes
Your blood pressure would decrease
Your pulse rate would drop
The body temperature of your hands and feet would increase
In 8 hours
The carbon monoxide level in your blood would drop to normal
The oxygen level in your blood would increase to normal
In 24 hours
Your chance of heart attack would decrease
In 48 hours
Your nerve endings would start regrowing
Your ability to smell and taste would enhance
In 2 weeks to 3 months
Your circulation would improve
Walking would become easier
Your lung function would increase
In 1 to 9 months
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath would decrease
In 1 year
Your excess risk of coronary heart disease would decrease to half that of a smoker
In 5 years
From 5 to 15 years after quitting, your risk for stroke would be reduced to that of people who have never smoked
In 10 years
Your risk of lung cancer would drop to as little as one-half that of continuing smokers
Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas would decrease
Your risk of ulcer would decrease
In 15 years
Your risk of coronary heart disease would be similar to that of people who have never smoked
Your risk of death would return to nearly the level of people who have never smoked
Source: American Lung Association