At the Smokers’ Helpline we often hear people report that they have so much more energy when they quit, even after just a few days of living smoke free! Here are some of the other health benefits you can look forward to.

20 minutes after your last cigarette:

• • Blood pressure drops to normal.
  • Pulse rate drops to normal.
  • Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal.

8 hours:

• Carbon dioxide levels in blood drops to normal.
• Oxygen level in blood increases to normal.

24 Hours:

• • Chance of heart attack decreases.

48 hours:

• Nerve endings start re-growing.
• Ability to smell and taste is enhanced.

2-3 weeks:

• • Circulation improves.
  • Walking becomes easier.
  • Lung function increases up to 30%.

1-9 months:

• • Decrease in coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
  • Cilia re-grow in lungs, increasing their ability to clean the lungs, reduce infection, and handle mucus.
  • Body’s overall energy increases.

1 year:

• Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.

5 years:

• • Lung cancer death rate for an average one-pack-a-day former smoker decreases by almost half.
  • Stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years after quitting.
  • Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus is cut in half.

10 years:

• Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of nonsmokers.
• Precancerous cells are replaced.
• Risk of mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas cancers decrease.

15 years:

• Risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a non-smoker.

Contact the Smokers’ Helpline today to find out how you can start repairing the damage to your body. Call 1-800-363-5864.