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To Would Be Ex-Smokers
Second-hand smoke causes 3,000
lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers each year. (American Lung Association)
After you quit...
- Within 20 minutes : Your blood
pressure and pulse rate drop to normal. Body temperature of hands
and feet increases to normal.
- Within 8 hours : Carbon monoxide
level in the blood drops to normal and oxygen levels in blood
rise to normal. Smoker's breath disappears.
- Within 24 hours : Chance of
heart attack decreases.
- Within 48 hours : Nerve endings
start regrowing. Ability to taste and smell enhances.
- Within three days : You'll breathe
easier.
- Within two weeks to three months
: Circulation improves. Walking becomes easier. Lung function
increases up to 30%.
- Within one to nine months :
You'll cough less. Sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease.
The cilia that sweep debris from your lungs will grow back. You'll
feel more energetic.
- Within one year : Excess risk
of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.
- Within two years : Your heart
attack risk drops to near normal.
- Within five years : Lung cancer
death rate for average former smoker (of one pack a day) decreases
by almost half. Stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker
five to 15 years after quitting. Risk of cancer of the mouth,
throat, and esophagus is half that of a smoker's.
- Within 10 years : Lung cancer
death rate is similar to that of a nonsmoker's. Precancerous
cells are replaced. Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus,
bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.
- Within 15 years : Risk of coronary
heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.
Sources : American Cancer
Society; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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