Lehigh Valley Tobacco Resource Center

Want to Quit Smoking?
<< Back Dealing with quitting

Effects of Smoking - What Happens When you Quit

20 minutes	8 hours
Blood pressure drops to normal Pulse rate drops to normal Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal	Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal Oxygen level in blood increases to normal
24 hours	48 hours
Chance of heart attack decreases	Nerve endings start regrowing Ability to smell and taste is enhanced
2 weeks to 3 months	1 to 9 months
Circulation improves Walking becomes easier Lung function increases up to 30%	Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease Cilia regrow in lungs, increasing their ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection Body’s overall energy increases
1 year	5 years
Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker	Lung-cancer death rate for average former smoker (one pack a day) decreases by almost half Stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker five to 15 years after quitting Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, and esophagus is half that of a smoker’s
10 years	15 years
Lung-cancer death rate is similar to that of a non-smoker Pre-cancerous cells are replaced Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, cervix, and pancreas decreases	Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker