Your body begins healing soon after you quit and will continue to heal the longer you’re smoke–free. Quitting smoking can mean improving treatment, managing your condition better, and stopping symptoms.
In just 20 minutes after you quit smoking, your heart rate starts to slow down, and your blood pressure begins to normalize.
As you reach the two-week to three-month mark, your circulation gets a boost, and your lungs begin to work better. You might find yourself breathing deeper and feeling more energetic.
Keep going! At 1 to 12 months, you’ll notice even more positive changes. That persistent cough and those moments of breathlessness start to fade away. Inside your lungs, tiny hair-like structures called cilia are waking up and doing their job again. They help keep your lungs clean, lowering the chances of getting sick.
After 1 to 2 years, your risk of having a heart attack drops significantly. Your body is healing, step by step.
When you hit the 5 to 10-year mark, the risks of certain cancers, like those in your mouth, throat, and voice box, are cut by half. Even your chances of having a stroke go down.
Fast forward to 10 years, and your risk of lung cancer is now much lower than someone who still smokes. Other cancers, like those in your bladder, esophagus, and kidneys, become less likely too.
By the time you reach 15 years without smoking, your risk of coronary heart disease is almost the same as someone who’s never smoked. Your heart and lungs are thanking you every day for your decision to quit.
Remember, every small step you take towards quitting smoking is a big victory for your health. Each day, your body is getting stronger and healthier, setting you on a path to a brighter, smoke-free future.
