| Time after the last cigarette |
Benefit |
| 20 minutes |
Blood pressure and pulse return to normal. |
| 8 hours |
Oxygen levels in the blood return to normal. |
| 24 hours |
Carbon monoxide is eliminated from the body. The lungs start to clear out the mucus. |
| 48 hours |
No nicotine is left in the body. Taste and smell improve. |
| 72 hours |
Breathing becomes easier as the airways open up. Energy level increases. |
| 2-12 weeks |
Circulation improves making walking and running easier. |
| 3-9 months |
Coughs and breathing problems improve as lung function improves by 90%. |
| 5 years |
The risk of heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker. |
| 10 years |
Risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker. Risk of heart attack is about the same as a lifetime non-smoker. |
