Quitting smoking is always a great idea, your body will start to feel healthier just 20 minutes after you quit. What happens to your body when you quit? 
After 20 minutes: Your heart rate will start to drop down to normal levels.
After 2 hours: Your heart rate and blood pressure will drop down to almost non-smoker levels. Your peripheral circulation will improve, allowing your fingers and toes feel warm again. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms will also start to kick in.
After 12 hours: Carbon monoxide in your body decreases and your blood oxygen levels will increase back to non-smoker levels.
After 24 hours: Your risk for heart attack begins to drop.
After 48 hours: Your nerve endings will start to re-grow and your ability to smell and taste begins to increase.
After 3 days: Nicotine will have left your body, but this means nicotine withdrawal symptoms will generally be at their highest. You can get through this period! Revisit our blog post on resisting cravings for help.
After 2-3 weeks: Exercise and physical activities will be easier – you won’t feel as winded or sick. Regenerative process will start to occur in your body – your circulation will improve and your lung function will also improve. In general, you’ll start to breathe easier and withdrawal symptoms will ease up.
After 1-9 months: Your lungs and cilia, the tiny hairs in your lungs, will begin to repair themselves, reducing your risk of infection. Your lung function will continue to improve, and instances of coughing and shortness of breath will decrease.
After 1 year: Your risk for heart disease is lowered by 50 percent.
After 5 years: Your risk of having a stroke is the same as someone who is a non-smoker.
After 10 years: Your risk of dying from lung cancer will drop to half that of a smoker’s. Your risk of other cancers also decreases
After 15 years: Your risk of heart disease returns to the same level as someone who doesn’t smoke. Your risks for a myriad of other health complications, such as heart attack, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, angina, infections of the heart or other heart conditions also decreases.
Quit smoking today and you’ll add years to your life! Check out our Smoke-Free for Life program for help quitting.