Your body will begin to repair itself as soon as you stop
smoking - and you'll go on feeling the health benefits for
the rest of your life.
20 minutes
after stopping
Your blood pressure and pulse rate will return to normal, circulation
improves in hands and feet, making them warmer.
8 hours after
stopping
Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood will be cut by
half and oxygen levels will return to normal. Chances of a heart
attack start to fall.
24 hours
after stopping Carbon monoxide will be eliminated
from your body and your lungs will start to clear out mucus
and other smoking debris
48 hours after
stopping
Your body is now free of nicotine and your sense of taste and
smell improves.
72
hours after stopping
You should be breathing more easily. Airway passages in the
lungs begin to relax. Energy levels increase.
2-12 weeks after stopping
Your circulation is improving, making walking easier.
3-9 months after stopping
Your lung function has increased by up to 10%. That means less
coughing and wheezing and fewer breathing problems.
5 years after stopping
Your risk of having a heart attack has fallen to about half
of that of a smoker.
10 years after
stopping
Your risk of contracting lung cancer has fallen to half that of
a smoker and your risk of having a heart attack is the same as
if you'd never smoked Regardless of age, stopping smoking is the
best thing anyone can do to improve their health. Stopping smoking
at any age increases your life expectancy, provided you stop before
you develop cancer or other serious disease. But even if damage
has already been done, you can still benefit from stopping.
