​​​​​ If you were to stop smoking right now...

  • Within 20 minutes: Your heart rate drops
  • Within 8 hours: Carbon monoxide levels in your blood return to normal
  • Within 24 hours: Your sense of taste and smell would improve
  • Within 3 days: Your coughing and shortness of breath improve
  • Between 2 to 12 weeks: Your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker
  • Between 1 to 9 months: Your coughing and shortness of breath improve
  • At 1 year: Your risk of heart disease is half of a smoker
  • At 5 to 15 years: Your risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer would continue to lower

Benefits of Quitting

If you quit smoking, it can improve your health almost right away. Choosing a healthy lifestyle is the best thing you can do for your health and that of those around you.



Timeline infographic showing what would happen at different timepoints if you stopped smoking

https://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/Education/Continuing_Education_Programs/Pages/continuing_education_programs.aspx
Last reviewed: 11/26/2024
Last modified: 11/27/2024 8:23 AM
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