When Smokers Quit
Within 20 minutes of smoking that last cigarette, the body begins a series of changes that continues for years. All benefits are lost by smoking just one cigarette a day, according to the American Cancer Society.
20 minutes after that last cigarette
- Blood pressure drops to normal
- Pulse rate drops to normal
- Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal
8 hours after that last cigarette
- Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
- Oxygen level in blood drops to normal
24 hours after that last cigarette
- Chance of heart attack decreases
48 hours after that last cigarette
- Nerve endings start regrowing
- Ability to smell and taste is enhanced
2 weeks to 3 months after that last cigarette
- 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 and 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 risk 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 smoker’s
10 years
- Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of nonsmokers
- Precancerous cells are replaced
- Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases
15 years
- Risk of coronary disease is that of nonsmoker
Source: American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control
