Quitting smoking can have a significant impact on your health, both in the short-term and the long-term. Here is a comprehensive timeline of some of the health benefits you may experience when you quit smoking:
20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure begin to return to normal.
8 hours after quitting: The level of carbon monoxide in your blood drops, and the oxygen level in your blood increases to normal.
24 hours after quitting: Your risk of a heart attack begins to decrease.
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves, and your lung function increases. Coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
1 to 9 months after quitting: Cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, reducing the risk of infection.
1 year after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of a smoker’s. The risk of lung cancer also decreases.
5 years after quitting: The risk of stroke is reduced to that of a non-smoker. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas also decreases.
10 years after quitting: The risk of lung cancer drops by half. The risk of cancer of the larynx (voice box) and pancreas also decreases.
15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s.
20 years after quitting: The risk of lung cancer is similar to that of a person who has never smoked.
It’s important to note that the benefits of quitting smoking can be seen even if you have already developed smoking-related health conditions. Quitting smoking can slow down the progression of these conditions and increase the chances of recovery. Additionally, quitting smoking also have benefits on your oral health, skin, fertility, and overall mental health.
Here is an example I found online of a lady who demonstrates the results of 2 months free of cigarettes:
