When Smokers Quit
Within twenty minutes of smoking that last cigarette,
the body begins a series of changes that continues for years.

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

8 hours
Carbon Monoxide level in blood drops to normal
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal

24 hours
Chance of heart attack decreases

48 hours
Nerve endings start regrowing
Ability to smell and taste is enhanced

2 weeks to 3 months
Circulation improves
Walking becomes easier
Lung function increases up to 30 percent

1 to 9 months
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease
Cilia regrow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, reduce infection
Body’s overall energy increases

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

5 years
Lung cancer death rate for average former smoker (one pack a day) decreases by almost half
Stroke is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 – 15 years after quitting
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus is half that of a smoker’s

10 years
Lung cancer death rate similar to that of nonsmokers
Precancerous cells are replaced
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases

15 years
Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker

Source: American Cancer Society; Centers of Disease Control and Prevention