Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Within 20 minutes after their last cigarette, smokers’ blood pressure and heart rate drop

12 hours: The carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal

48 hours: The ability to smell and taste is enhanced

2 weeks to 3 months: Heart attack risk begins to drop; lung function begins to improve

1 to 9 months: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease

1 year: Added risk of heart attack is half that of a smoker

5 years: Stroke risk is the same as that of people who never smoked

10 years: Risk of dying from lung cancer is half that of a smoker

15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker