 |
When you quit smoking you will feel immediate benefits as your body starts to repair itself.
| Time since last cigarette | Benefits |
| 20 minutes | Heart rate drops |
| 12 hours | Blood levels of carbon monoxide drop dramatically |
| 72 hours | Sense of taste and smell improve. Circulation improves |
| 2 weeks - 3 months | Heart attack risk begins to drop, lung function improves |
| 1 - 9 months | Coughing and shortness of breath decrease |
| 1 year | Risk of coronary heart disease is halved after one year compared to continuing smokers |
| 5 years | Stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5-15 years after quitting. Risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus decreases. |
| 10 years | Risk of lung cancer death is about half that of a continuing smoker and continues to decline. Risk of cancers of the bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases. |
| 15 years | Risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a non-smoker. The all-cause mortality in former smokers declines to the same level as people who have never smoked. |
Source: Adapted from Zwar et al
Other benefits of quitting include:
For more information, see the Benefits of quitting brochure.
