When Smokers Quit

20 minutes after quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure drops. 12 hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

1 to 9 months

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting, your blood circulation improves and your lung function increases.

1 to 9 months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function.

1 to 15 years

1 year after quitting, the excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.

5 to 15 years after quitting, stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker.

After 15 years

10 years after quitting, the lung cancer death chance is about half that of a regular smoker. Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.

15 years after, risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker.

Visible and immediate rewards of quitting

Quitting helps to stop the damaging effects of tobacco on your appearance including: premature wrinkling, bad breath, stained teeth, gum disease, yellow fingernails.