Better Health Starts After the Last Cigarette
I quit!
Congratulations for taking steps to improve your health! After the last cigarette, the road to better health starts within minutes and continues for years. Here are the changes your body experiences along that journey.
20 Minutes after Your Last Cigarette
In less than half an hour, blood pressure, pulse rate and body temperature all drop to normal levels.
8 Hours after Your Last Cigarette
In less than a day, the carbon monoxide and oxygen levels in the blood become normal, and "smoker's breath" disappears.
24 Hours after Your Last Cigarette
In one day, your chances of a heart attack decrease.
48 Hours after Your Last Cigarette
Within two days, nerve endings start to regrow.
Within 3 Months after Your Last Cigarette
Within 9 Months after Your Last Cigarette
In less than a year, coughing, sinus congestion, tiredness and shortness of breath decrease.
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1 Year after Your Last Cigarette
After 12 smoke-free months, your risk of coronary heart disease is decreased to half that of a smoker.
5 Years after Your Last Cigarette
After five years, your stroke risk is reduced to that of someone who never smoked, and your risk of mouth, throat and esophageal cancer is half that of a smoker.
10 Years after Your Last Cigarette
Within one decade, your risk of cancer drops to as little as 50 percent of smokers; the risk of developing ulcers decreases; and the lung cancer death rate is similar to a nonsmoker.
15 Years after Your Last Cigarette
A smoke-free decade and a half returns your risk of coronary heart disease and death to nearly same level of someone who never smoked.
Approved by Thomas Ylioja, PhD, December 2019