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Benefits of Quitting

Short and Long-Term Benefits of Quitting

20 minutes after last cigarette

  • Blood pressure drops to normal.
  • Pulse rate drops to normal.
  • Hand and foot temperature rises to normal.

8 hours after last cigarette

  • Blood carbon monoxide levels drop to normal.
  • Blood oxygen level increases to normal.

1 day after last cigarette

  • Chances of heart attack and stroke start decreasing.

2 days after last cigarette

  • Sense of taste and smell begin to heighten.
  • Certain nerve endings begin to re-grow.
  • Nicotine by-products are removed from body.

3 days after last cigarette

  • Bronchial tubes start to relax, making breathing easier.
  • Lung capacity begins to improve.

1 month after last cigarette

  • Circulation improves.
  • You experience more energy.

1 to 3 months after last cigarette

  • Lung function increases up to 30%.
  • Bronchial cilia begin to re-grow, there is an increased ability to clean the lungs, reducing the chances of infection. Pollutants are cleared more effectively.

1 to 12 months after last cigarette

  • Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease.

2 to 4 months after last cigarette

  • Risk of developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease reduces by 5%

1 year after last cigarette

  • Risk of developing Coronary Heart Disease decreases by 50%.

2 years after last cigarette

  • Risk is reduced for recurrence of ulcers.
  • The ability for short-term healing is improved.
  • Risk of death from heart disease declines by 24%.

3 years after last cigarette

  • Risk of heart attack and stroke approaches that of someone who has never smoked.

5 years after last cigarette

  • Risk of developing mouth, esophageal, throat, and bladder cancer reduces by 50%.

5 to 15 years after last cigarette

  • Risk of stroke reduces to that of someone who has never smoked.

10 years after last cigarette

  • Risk of developing lung cancer is reduced by up to 70%.

10 to 14 years after last cigarette

  • Risk of developing heart disease drops to that of someone has never smoked.

15 years after last cigarette

  • Risk of developing lung cancer is the same as non-smokers.
  • Risk of congestive heart disease same as someone who has never smoked.
  • Life expectancy is the same as that of a non-smoker.

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