Within 20 Minutes of Quitting

Within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of changes that continue for years.

• 20 Minutes After Quitting
  Your heart rate drops.
• 12 hours After Quitting
  Carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• 2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting
  Your heart attack risk begins to drop.
  Your lung function begins to improve.
• 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 5-15 years after quitting.
• 10 Years After Quitting
  Your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker’s.
  Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.
• 15 Years After Quitting
  Your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker’s.