How your body heals

I am sure you know it already, but your body is a miraculous thing. Within 20 minutes of taking your last puff your body is already at work healing itself to the harmful effects of smoking. See where you are in the healing process.

  • 20 Minutes

    Blood pressure drops while heart rate and circulation normalize

    Almost immediately after stopping smoking your blood pressure starts to go down and your blood oxygen levels start to go up.

  • 24 hours

    Chances of having a heart attack decrease

    Smoking can double your risk of a heart attack. Lower blood pressure and increased blood oxygen levels help reduce this risk.

  • 2 days

    Sense of taste and smell start improving

    Smoking can deaden your senses resulting in a reduced capacity to process smells and tastes.

  • 3 Days

    Nicotine has left the body

    Withdrawal symptoms on, or around, day three are often at their highest due to the lack of nicotine in your body.

  • 1 to 3 Months

    Circulation improves and exercising becomes easier

    When you quit smoking your lung capacity will increase. This additional capacity makes breathing easier.

  • 9 Months

    The lungs' ability to fight infection improves dramatically

    This is thanks to the renewal of alveoli which are tiny air sacs within the lungs that facilitate the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen.

  • 1 Year

    50% reduction in risk of smoking-related heart attack

    As your blood vessels return to their pre-smoking size your blood pressure is reduced along with your risk of a heart attack.

  • 5 Years

    Risk of having a stroke is now reduced to that of a non-smoker

    Smokers have up to a 70% higher risk of a stroke. Quitting lowers that risk almost immediately, with time increasing the benefits.

  • 10 Years

    Risk of dying from lung cancer will decrease by half

    Your risk of lung cancer lessens as your body continues to heal with time. The more distance from smoking the better.

  • 20 Years

    As far as your body is concerned it’s like you never smoked

    Yes it took 20 years but look at you now! Your risk of dying from a heart attack is the same as a person who has never smoked.