Benefits of Stopping
Within 20 minutes of your last cigarette, you will start noticing the benefits of being smoke-free.
| SHORT-TERM BENEFITS OF STOPPING | |
| 20 minutes after stopping: |
- blood pressure goes down
- heart rate returns to normal - body temperature of hands and feet goes up |
| Eight hours after stopping: |
- carbon monoxide level in blood will be cut in half
- oxygen level in blood returns to normal |
| 24 hours after stopping: |
- carbon monoxide will be gone from your body
- lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris - less chance of a heart attack |
| 48 hours after stopping |
- nerve endings start to re-grow
- ability to smell and taste gets better |
| 72
hours after stopping: |
- there is no nicotine left in your body
- breathing becomes easier and your energy level goes up |
| Two weeks to three months after stopping: |
- blood circulation gets better
- walking becomes easier - lung function gets better |
| One to nine months after stopping: |
- less coughing, sinus congestion, tiredness and shortness of breath |
| One year after stopping: |
- risk of heart disease is cut down to half of that of a smoker |
| LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF STOPPING | |
| At five years: | - from five to 15 years after stopping, the chance of having a stroke is cut down to that of people who have never smoked |
| At 10 years: | - risk of lung cancer drops to half that of continuing
smokers
- risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas lessens - risk of stomach ulcers lessens |
| At 15 years: | - risk of coronary heart disease is now similar to
that of people who have never smoked
- risk of an early death is the same as that of people who have never smoked |
| FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF STOPPING | |
| One year: | - you will save more than $3,000 |
| LIFESTYLE BENEFITS | |
| - the freedom to go wherever you want and stay as long as you want | |
