Why You’re Quitting: The Benefits

Here's the list of how your body will start to heal after you quit. Chronologically listed from immediately to when you are 50 years old, this list of how your body will rebound and the reduced chances of disease are enough to motivate any quitter.
The benefits of being smoke-free
People who stop smoking cigarettes generally live longer than those who continue to smoke.
After 15 years of being smoke-free, an ex-smoker's risk of death is comparable to a nonsmoker's.
Becoming smoke-free decreases your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic lung diseases and respiratory illnesses.
Ex-smokers have fewer health complaints, better self-reported health status and reduced rates of bronchitis and pneumonia.
Women who stop smoking before they become pregnant reduce the risk of miscarriage, having a baby with low birth weight or having a newborn die of SIDS.
How your health improves after stopping smoking.
Immediately
Air around you no longer dangerous to children and other adults.
20 minutes
Blood pressure drops to normal.
Pulse rate drops to normal.
Temperature in hands and feet increases to normal.
8 hours
Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal.
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal.
24 hours
Chance of heart attack decreases.
48 hours
Sense of smell and taste improves.
2 to 12 weeks
Circulation improves.
Breathing improves.
Walking becomes easier.
1 to 9 months
Coughing and sinus congestion decreases.
Shortness of breath decreases.
Overall energy increases.
Lungs increase ability to self-clean and reduce infection.
1 year
Risk of premature coronary heart disease for men is half the risk of a male smoker.
5 years
Risk of stroke comparable to that of a nonsmoker.
10 years
Life expectancy comparable to a nonsmoker.
Lung cancer death rate is about half the rate of a smoker.
Risk of cancer of mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease.
15 years
Risk of coronary heart disease comparable to that of a nonsmoker.
Before age 50
Risk of dying in the next 15 years decreases by 50 percent compared to continuing smokers.