Quitting smoking is one of the best decisions you can make for your health. The benefits of quitting smoking can be experienced at different times throughout the timeline. Here’s a general overview of the benefits you can expect:
Immediate effects
- Within 20 minutes: Your blood pressure and heart rate start to decrease.
- Within 8 hours: The level of carbon monoxide in your blood drops, and the oxygen levels in your blood increase.
- Within 48 hours: Your sense of taste and smell begins to improve.
Short-term effects (within weeks to months)
- Within 72 hours: Breathing becomes easier as your bronchial tubes begin to relax and open up.
- Within 2 to 12 weeks: Circulation improves, making physical activity easier and reducing the risk of complications.
- Within 1 to 9 months: Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease. Lung function improves.
Long-term effects (within years to decades)
- Within 1 year: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.
- Within 5 years: The risk of stroke decreases, and the risk of various cancers, including lung, mouth, throat, and esophageal cancer, also decreases.
- Within 10 years: The risk of dying from lung cancer is approximately half that of a continuing smoker. The risk of other cancers, such as kidney, pancreas, and bladder cancer, decreases.
- Within 15 years: The risk of coronary heart disease is similar to that of a nonsmoker.
It’s important to note that individual experiences may vary, and the timeline is meant to provide a general idea of the benefits of quitting smoking. Quitting smoking is a significant step towards improving your overall health and reducing the risk of numerous smoking-related diseases.
