Within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of changes that continues for years . . . . . .
- 20 Minutes After Quitting
- Your Heart rate drops
- 12 Hours After Quitting – The amount of carbon monoxide in your blood drops to normal.
- 2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting – Your heart attack risk begins to drop.
- 2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting – Your lungs begin to work better.
- 1 to 9 Months After Quitting – Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
- 1 Year After Quitting – Your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
- 5 Years After Quitting – Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker’s
- 5-15 years after quitting.
- 10 Years After Quitting – Your lung cancer death rate is half that of a smoker’s. Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.
- 15 Years After Quitting – Your risk of heart disease is like you never smoked.
