This is how much – and how quickly – you’ll reap the benefits of quitting.
Smoking damages every organ in the body. These are the major advantages of giving up smoking:
After 20 minutes:
Your blood pressure and pulse are back to normal and your circulation has improved.After 12 hours:
The oxygen supply to your blood returns to normal.After 24 hours:
Your breath smells better. The carbon monoxide from the cigarette smoke has been eliminated from your body.After 2 days:
Your body is now free of nicotine.After 3 days:
Breathing is easier. Your risk of contracting respiratory infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia is reduced.After 1 week:
Your senses of smell and taste are improving. More air, less coughing and sputum.
From 2 weeks:
Your circulation is improving, and this improves your performance during sports and sex.After 3-9 months:
Positive effects on lung function are already detectable.After 1 year:
Your risk of developing heart disease (e.g. heart attack) is reduced by half.After 5 years:
Your risk of suffering a stroke is reduced by half. Your risk of developing oral, oesophageal and bladder cancer is reduced by half.After 10 years:
Your risk of developing lung cancer is now the same as that for a non-smoker. Your risk of suffering a stroke is the same as that for a non-smoker.After 15 years:
Your risk of developing heart disease (e.g. heart attack) is the same as that for a non-smoker. The mortality rate is almost the same as that for a person who has never smoked.
