When you quit smoking, your health begins to improve right away. Here are just some of the benefits you can expect after you kick the habit for good.
20 minutes after you quit:
Your heart rate and blood pressure drop;
The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal; and
Your circulation and lung function improve.
1 to 9 months after you quit:
Coughing and shortness of breath decrease;
Lung function continues to improve; and
The risk of lung infection decreases.
1 year after you quit:
Your risk of heart disease is half that of someone who still smokes.
5 years after you quit:
Your risk of getting cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder are cut in half;
Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a non-smoker; and
Stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after 2-5 years.
10 years after you quit:
The risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who still smokes; and
Your risk of pancreatic and larynx (voice box) cancer decreases.
15 years after you quit:
Your risk of heart disease is the same as someone who doesn’t smoke.
Quit at any age and gain years of life and good health. Talk to your doctor about the best way for you to quit, or contact the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at 1 (866) NY-QUITS, or 1 (866) 697-8487.
For more health & wellness tips, please visit Fidelis Care’s website
