20 minutes |
Heart rate and blood pressure drop. |
12 hours |
Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal. |
2 weeks to 3 months |
Circulation improves and lung function increases. |
1 to 9 months |
Cough and shortness of breath decrease; cilia start to regain normal function in lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection. |
1 year |
Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker. |
5 years |
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder are cut in half. Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a non-smoker. Stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after 2-5 years. |
10 years |
Risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking. The risk of cancer of the larynx and pancreas decrease. |
15 years |
Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker. |