What Happens When You Give Up Smoking? by Jane Thurnell-Read

Many of the people who smoke want to give up. Here's information on what happens to the body after that last cigarette is smoked. This health information shows how quickly you can beenfit from giving up smoking. Stop smoking now and see the changes that can happen in your health over the next year, the next five years and so on.

Within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of changes that continue for years.

20 Minutes After Quitting Smoking

Your heart rate drops.

12 hours After Quitting Smoking

Carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting Smoking

Your heart attack risk begins to drop. Your lung function begins to improve.

1 to 9 Months After Quitting

Your Coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

1 Year After Quitting Smoking

Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smokers.

5 Years After Quitting Smoking

Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smokers 5-15 years after quitting.

10 Years After Quitting Smoking

Your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smokers. Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.

15 Years After Quitting

Your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a non smokers.

Low birth weight baby risk drops to normal if you quit during your first three months of pregnancy.

This information is taken from the web site of the Centres for Disease Control in USA

Click here to read more specifically about smoking and heart disease.

What about cigarette filters? Are they safe? Click here to find out.