Your Body's Recovery after Quitting

Less than half an hour after quitting

• lower blood pressure
• lower pulse rate
• higher body temperature in hands and feet

After 8 hours

• normal levels of carbon monoxide in the blood stream
• normal levels of oxygen in the blood stream

After 1 day

• reduced risk of heart attack

After 2 days

• regrowth of nerve endings
• increased sense of smell and taste

Between 2 weeks to 3 months

• improved circulation
• increased capacity to walk
• increased lung function

Between 1 to 9 months

• reduction in shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue and sinus congestion

After 1 year

• the increased risk of coronary heart disease is reduced to half that of a smoker

After 5 years

• stroke risk is reduced to that of people who have never smoked.

After 10 years

• reduced risk of lung cancer to half that of a smoker
• reduced risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas
• reduced risk of ulcers

After 15 years

• risk of coronary heart disease and death is similar to that of a non-smoker