Why Give Up?
In this section:
Benefits Quit Day Withdrawl Symptoms
The Health Benefits of Giving Up
For the sake of your health, it's never too soon or too late to stop smoking. Stopping smoking at any age increases your life expectance, providing you stop before you develop cancer or other serious diseases. Even if the damage has been done you can still benefit from stopping.
| Time stopped |
Benefits |
| 20 minutes |
Blood pressure and pulse return to normal.
Circulation improves, especially to hands and feet. |
| 8 hours |
Blood oxygen levels increase to normal, and your chances of having a heart attack start to fall. |
| 24 hours |
Carbon monoxide leaves the body.
The lungs start to clear out mucus and debris. |
| 48 hours |
Your body is now nicotine-free.
Your senses of taste and smell begin to
improve. |
| 72 hours |
Breathing is easier, and your energy levels increase. |
| 2-12 weeks |
Circulation improves throughout the body.
Walking and exercise get easier. |
| 3-9 months |
Breathing problems, coughing shortness of breath and wheezing improve.
Lung efficiency increased by 5-10 per cent.
|
| 5 years |
Risk of having a heart attack falls to about half of that of a smoker. |
| 10 years |
Risk of lung cancer falls to around half that of a smoker.
Risk of heart attack falls to about the same as someone who has never smoked. |
There are many more benefits from quitting! You will save money.
If you smoke a pack of 20 cigarettes a day, you could save enough to buy:
- A weeks holiday
- Season ticket for your favourite football team
- A wide screen TV
- New clothes
Using this simple calculator, find out how much money you will save by stopping smoking. |
