Barnes-Jewish Hospital | Washington University Physicians
Lung Articles | 

Benefits of Being Smoke-Free Now and Later

Originally published Dec 2006

Almost immediately when you quit smoking, your body starts benefiting. And the effects are far-reaching*:

20 minutes after quitting:

  • blood pressure decreases

  • pulse rate drops

  • body temperature of hands and feet increases

Eight hours later:

  • carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal

  • oxygen level in blood increases to normal

24 hours later:

  • chance of heart attack decreases

48 hours later:

  • nerve endings start regrowing

  • ability to smell and taste is enhanced

Two weeks to three months later:

  • circulation improves

  • walking becomes easier

  • lung function increases

One to nine months later:

  • coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decreases

One year later:

  • excess risk of coronary heart disease is decreased to half that of a smoker

Five years later:

  • from five to 15 years after quitting, stroke risk is reduced to that of people who have never smoked

10 years later:

  • risk of lung cancer drops to as little as one-half that of continuing smokers

  • risk of ulcer, cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases

15 years later:

  • risk of coronary heart disease is now that of people who have never smoked

  • risk of death returns to nearly the level of people who have never smoked

* Source: American Lung Association


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