Benefits of Stopping Smoking
After 20 minutes:
- Blood pressure drops to normal
- Pulse rate drops to normal
- Temperature of hands and feet returns to normal
After 8 hours:
- Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
- Oxygen level in blood increases to normal
24 hours:
- Chance of heart attack decreased
48 hours
- Nerve endings start to re-grow
- Smell and taste improved
2 - 12 weeks
- Circulation improves
- Exercise, including walking, becomes easier
- Lung function increased by up to one-third
1 - 9 months
- Cilia re-grow in lungs and airways, increasing lung's self- maintenance
- Energy levels increase overall
- Coughing, sinus problems, tiredness, shortness of breath all decrease
1 - 1.5 years
- Excess risk of heart disease is halved.
- Recovery rate from heart/bypass surgery almost doubled.
2.5 - 5 years
- Lung cancer death rate for average former smoker almost halved
- Risk of mouth and throat cancer halved
5 - 10 years
- Risk of stroke similar to non-smoker
1 - 1.5 years
- Excess risk of heart disease is halved.
- Recovery rate from heart/bypass surgery almost doubled.
10 years
- Lung cancer death rate the same as for non-smokers
- Pre-cancerous cells have been replaced
- Risk of cancer of mouth, throat, bladder, kidneys, pancreas decreases
10 - 15 years
- Risk of heart disease is that of a non-smoker
Lower risk indicators:
Under 35 years old; smoking 15 a day or less; good level of fitness; regular exercise taken; no persistent cough; low total consumption since starting.
High risk indicators:
Over 50 years old; smoking 30 a day or more; poor fitness level; no regular exercise taken; persistent cough; high total consumption since starting.
These figures are based on research by more than one cancer society and do not represent guaranteed clinical or physical improvements to any one particular individual. It is widely accepted that non-smokers even those who have smoked at some time in the lives, live longer and with a higher quality of life than those who smoke or continue to smoke.
