Quitting tobacco at any point in life provides both immediate benefits and substantial long-term benefits.


Withing 20 minutes of the last cigarette:

Blood pressure drops to normal.

Pulse rate drops to normal rate.

Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal.

After 8 hours:

Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal.

Oxygen level in blood increases to normal.

After 24 hours:

Chances of heart attack decreases.

After 48 hours:

Nerve endings begin to replace.

Ability to smell and taste is enhanced.

After 72 hours:

Bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier.

After 2 weeks to 3 months:

Circulation improves.

Walking becomes easier.

Lung function increases up to 30 percent.

After 1 to 9 months:

Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decreases.

Cilia begins to re-grow in lungs, increasing your ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs and reduce infection.

The body's overall energy level increases.

After 5 years:

Lung cancer death rate for average smoker (one pack a day) decreases from 137 per 100,000.

After 10 years:

Pre-cancerous cells are replaced.

Other cancers, such as those of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas, decrease (there are 30 cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke).

Lung cancer death rate drops to 12 deaths per 100,000–almost the rate of non-smokers.

(Source: Debora J. Orrick, M.A., LCDC, CTAC-ACP Tom Ferguson, M.D.)