The benefits of stopping smoking are immediate. After: - 20 minutes – your blood pressure and pulse return to normal
- 8 hours – nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood are halved and oxygen levels in the blood return to normal
- 24 hours – carbon monoxide is eliminated from the body and lungs start to clear out the accumulated tar
- 48 hours – there is no nicotine left in the body and your sense of taste and smell are greatly improved
- 72 hours – your breathing becomes easier, your bronchial tubes begin to relax and your energy levels increase
The longer you've stopped for, the more the benefits grow
- After two to twelve weeks your circulation improves, making walking and running a lot easier
- After three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems get better as your lung function is increased by up to 10 per cent
- After five years – your risk of heart attack is halved
- After 10 years – your risk of lung cancer is halved
- After 10 years – your risk of heart attack is the same as that of a non-smoker
- In the medium- to long-term – your risk of developing lung cancer, others cancers, heart disease, stroke and chronic lung cancer is reduced – the sooner you stop, the sooner your risk starts going down
- In the medium- to long-term – stopping smoking at any age increases your life expectancy, provided that you stop before you develop any serious disease. Even if you have developed a disease, you can still benefit from stopping – your body will be under less strain and be more able to fight it
- For life – stopping smoking reduces stress, makes physical activity easier, means you don't tire as easily, improves your sense of taste and smell and improves your skin