What Happens When You Quit
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Within:
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This is what happens:
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20 Minutes
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Blood pressure, pulse rate, and body temperature return to normal.
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8 Hours
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Your body starts to heal itself; the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal and the oxygen level increases to normal.
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24 Hours
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Your chance of heart attack decreases.
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48 Hours
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Nerve endings start regrowing and your ability to smell and taste things is enhanced.
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72 Hours
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Bronchial tubes relax, lung capacity increases, and breathing becomes easier.
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2 Weeks to 3 Months
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Circulation improves, walking becomes easier, and lung function increases up to 30%.
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1-9 Months
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Cilia reactivate in the lungs, increasing their ability to handle mucous, clean the lungs and reduce infection. Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease and your body's overall energy level increases.
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5 Years
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The lung cancer death rate for the average smoker decreases from 137 per 100,000 people to 72 per 100,000 people (almost a 50 percent reduction).
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10 Years
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The lung cancer death rate for the average smoker drops to almost the rate of nonsmokers (12 per 100,000 people). The risk for other cancers (mouth: larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas) also decreases.
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Reprinted with permission from the American Cancer Society, New York City Division,
Inc. Adapted from A.C.S.- Massachusetts Division.
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