Health Issues | Benefits of Giving Up
Department of Health
...Stopping smoking at any age increases your life expectancy provided you stop before you develop a serious illness. Even if damage is done you will still benefit from stopping...
| Time Stopped | Benefits to your health |
|---|---|
| 20 minutes | Blood pressure and pulse return to normal. Circulation improves, especially to hands and feet |
| 8 hours | Blood oxygen levels increase to normal, and your chances of having a heart attack start to fall |
| 24 hours | Carbon monoxide leaves the body. The lungs clear out mucus and debris |
| 48 hours | Your body is now nicotine free. Your senses of taste and smell begin to improve. |
| 72 hours | Breathing is easier, and you energy levels increase. |
| 2-12 weeks | Circulation improves throughout the body. Walking and exercise get easier |
| 3-9 months | Breathing problems, coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing improve. Lung efficiency is increased by 5-10% |
| 5 years | Your risk of having a heart attack falls to about half of that of a smoker |
| 10 years | Your risk of lung cancer falls to around half of that of a smoker. Your risk of a heart attack is about the same as someone who has never smoked. |
Now why not take a look at the other Health Issues pages:
Around the body
See the different effects it has on each part of your body
Benefits of Giving up
See what happens over time
Sex & Smoking
Find out how your sex life can be affected by smoking
What's in a cigarette?
Find out what's really inside a cigarette
Diabetes, Asthma & Smoking
Smoking can increase your risk of getting diabetes as well as cause serious complications if you have it.