How to Quit. Take the Quiz. What If I Fail? Effects of Quitting. Considering Medications? How to Help a Smoker. Quit Poster 1. Quit Poster 2. Quit Poster 3.

Effects of Quitting What happens after I quit? Whether you have quit for 20 minutes or 15 years, here are some health benefits of which you can be proud. Within 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rate drops to normal. Within 8 hours, carbon monoxide and oxygen levels in blood returns to normal. Within 24 hours, a chance of a heart attack decreases. Within 2 days, your nerve endings begin regrowing. Your smell and taste senses are enhanced. Within 3 days, your lung capacity increases and breathing becomes easier. Within 2 weeks to 3 months, circulation improves, walking is easier, lung capacity increases up to 30% Within 1 to 9 months, your overall energy increases, cells lining the lung which increase the ability to handle mucus begin to regrow, clean lungs and reduce infection. Coughing and congestion decrease. Within 1 year, your excess risk of coronary heart disease is half of that of a smoker. Within 5 years, mouth, throat, esophagus cancer risks are half of a smoker's. Stroke risk and lung-cancer death rate decrease. Within 10 years, pre-cancerous cells are replaced, risk of bladder, kidney, cervix, and pancreas cancers decrease. Within 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non- smoker.