Within minutes of smoking your last cigarette, your body begins to recover"
20 minutes - Your heart rate and blood pressure drop
A few days - The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
2 weeks to 3 months - Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
1-12 months - Coughing and shortness of breath decrease. Tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs (called cilia) start to regain normal function, increasing their ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
1-2 years - Your risk of heart attack drops dramatically
5-10 years - Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and voice box (larynx) is cut in half. Your stroke risk decreases.
10 years - Your risk of lunch cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking (after 10-15 years). Your risk of cancer of the bladder, esophagus and kidney decreases.
15 years - Your risk of coronary heart disease is close to that of a non-smoker.
To get help and learn more, visit cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco or call 1-800-227-2345.