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Information for smokers
Health benefits when you quit smoking
Every hour, day, week, month and year that you go without
smoking, your health will improve.
When you quit, your body starts to repair itself straightaway – you’ll
notice the difference! Quitting is a great thing to do at any age –
you’ll live longer, and your quality of life will improve.
8 hours Your heartbeat slows down to normal, and your
blood pressure goes down.
24 hours Carbon monoxide is out of your system within a
day, and your lungs work better.
3-5 days Your senses of taste and smell begin to improve.
The phlegm in your lungs loosens, and you start
to cough it up and get rid of it.
1-6 months You feel fitter and are able to exercise more easily.
The blood flow (circulation) to your hands and feet
improves. You produce less phlegm. If your blood
pressure has been high, it is likely to fall.
1 year You have almost halved your risk of sudden death
from heart attack.
5 years Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and
oesophagus is half that of a person who continues
to smoke.
10 years Your risk of lung cancer is less that half that of a
person who continues to smoke.
15 years Your risk of sudden death from heart attack is
almost the same as that of a person who has
never smoked.