If you’re going to quit smoking cigarettes right now, I have good news for you – if you don’t ever pick up one again, your body will go through amazing transformations within minutes of finishing your last one. Here is a timeline of what happens to your body when you quit smoking:
20 minutes after your last cigarette – Your blood pressure and pulse will lower and returned to normal. The temperature in your hands and feet increase.
After 12 hours – The carbon monoxide level in your blood will lower and returned to normal. Blood oxygen begins to increase. You’ll feel more alert, sleep better, and be stronger.
After 24 hours – Your risk of heart attack drops significantly.
After 48 hours –Nerve endings begin to regrow in your sense of smell and taste will return.
After about three months – Your circulation will improve, walking will be easier, and you will cough less. Lung function will be noticeably improved.
Between 1 and 9 months – You’ll have less sinus congestion, fatigue, and nearly no shortness of breath.
After 1 year – Your risk of coronary heart disease is half of what it was when you smoked.
After 5 to 15 years – Your risk of stroke returns to normal, as if you’ve never smoked it all.
At the 10 year mark – Your chance of developing smoking-related cancer is about the same as a non-smoker. Diet and smoking contribute to 60% of cancers.
After 15 years – Your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack is that of a non-smoker. Your risk of death has dropped to that of a non-smoker.