".....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....." Department of Health

Health Issues - The Benefits of Giving Up


  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.