Benefits of quitting

Almost everyone knows that smoking is bad for you but do you know all the benefits of quitting? For the vast majority of smokers, quitting smoking is the best single thing they can do to improve the length and quality of their lives. Persons who quit smoking immediately begin to reduce their chances of developing heart disease, cancer, breathing problems, infections, or being in an accident.

Former smokers also live longer than those who continue to smoke. For example, those who quit before age 50 have only half the chance of dying in the next 15 years compared with those who continue to smoke.

Women who stop smoking before pregnancy or early in their pregnancy reduce their chance of having a low birth weight baby. Quitting can also reduce the chance of stillbirth, early infant death, and improve the health of the woman.

Within 20 Minutes After Smoking Your Last Cigarette

Your body begins a series of changes that continue for years.

20 Minutes After Quitting

Your heart rate drops.

12 hours After Quitting

Carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting

Your heart attack risk begins to drop.
Your lung function begins to improve.

1 to 9 Months After Quitting

Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

1 Year After Quitting

Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

5 – 15 Years After Quitting

Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker's.

10 Years After Quitting

Your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker's.
Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.

15 Years After Quitting

Your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a non-smoker's.

Does every smoker benefit by quitting?

The health benefits of quitting occur for all types of smokers, men and women, young and old. Even those who have developed smoking related problems like heart disease can benefit. For example, compared to continuing smokers, people who quit smoking after having a heart attack reduce their chances of having another heart attack by 50 per cent. They also reduce their risk of dying prematurely by 50 per cent.

What are the other benefits of quitting?

Although reducing your chances of premature death and illness is important, they aren't the only benefits of quitting smoking.

• Think of the money you will save by not having to buy tobacco, lighters, ashtrays, matches and so on.
• Your costs for cleaning clothes, carpets, and furniture may go down.
• The re-sale value of your car and house may go up.
• Your clothes may last longer (no chance of accidentally burning a hole).
• Your life and house insurance premiums may go down.
• Your sense of taste and smell will be enhanced. You will enjoy your food more.
  
• You will look and feel younger. Smoking causes wrinkling and the appearance of premature aging.
• You will have more energy to do the things you love.
• No more yellow teeth or fingers.
• You'll feel proud of your ability to overcome something so challenging. Many smokers remember the exact day they quit because it is a source of great pride.
• Cigarettes will no longer control your life. You will be setting a great example for children and other smokers.
• No need to worry about which restaurant you go to or whether you can smoke in a particular place.
• No more looks of disapproval or feelings of guilt. No more nagging from people asking when you're going to quit.

The message is clear. It's never too late to quit smoking. The sooner you quit the better, but even quitting after smoking for many years will bring an array of important benefits.