| Benefits of Quitting |
| 20 minutes |
Blood pressure and pulse rate decrease |
| 8 hours |
Carbon monoxide and oxygen levels in blood return to normal |
| 1 day |
The likelihood of a heart attack decreases |
| 2 days |
Nerve endings regenerate; sense of smell and taste are enhanced |
| 2 weeks |
Circulation improves and lung function increases |
| 1 -9 mos |
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease |
| 1 year |
The likelihood of heart attack is cut in half |
| 5 years |
Stroke risk is reduced to the same levels as a non-smoker |
| 10 years |
Risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a current smoker |
| 15 years |
Risk of coronary heart disease and death become roughly equivalent to those who have never smoked |