Your health begins to improve within twenty minutes of quitting. Within a short time, you will feel better, breathe better, and even smell better. Your food will taste better. And you will add years to your life.

Benefits of Quitting

In 20 minutes:
Blood pressure drops to normal
Pulse rate drops to normal
Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal

In 8 hours:
Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal

In 24 hours:
Chance of heart attack decreases

In 48 hours:
Nerve endings start re-growing
Ability to smell and taste is enhanced

In 3 weeks:
Circulation improves

In 3 months:
Walking becomes easier
Lung function increases up to 30%

In 1-9 months:
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease
Cilia re-grow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection
Body's overall energy increases

In 1 year:
Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker

In 5 years:
Lung cancer death rate for average former smoker (one pack a day) decreases by almost half
Pre-cancerous cells are replaced
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreases decreases

In 15 years:
Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker