Why Youre 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.

This material is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the medical advice of your doctor or any other health care professional. Always consult with your physician if you are in any way concerned about your health.