Benefits for People that Quit Smoking

NIH Medline Plus lists the following benefits for those that quit smoking:

•20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate drops.


•12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to normal.

•2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your heart attack risk begins to drop, and lung function improves.

•1 to 9 months after quitting: Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

•1 year after quitting: Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

•5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker's.

•10 years after quitting: Your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker's.

•15 years after quitting: Your risk of coronary heart disease returns to normal.