What happens when you quit smoking (Timeline)
What happens to your body when you stop smoking?
Explore changes that begin within minutes and benefits that build over years. The milestones below focus on heart health, breathing, cancer risk and withdrawal.
Over time, quitting lowers the risk of several smoking-related diseases. For another kind of motivation, explore our quit-smoking quotes.
TIMELINE
After…
20 minutes
Your heart rate begins to drop within minutes of stopping smoking.
8 hours
Blood carbon monoxide falls, and your oxygen levels begin to recover. NHS guidance describes carbon monoxide levels falling by about half after eight hours.
What happens after 1 day
Blood nicotine can fall to zero within a day if you are not using another nicotine source.
3 days
Withdrawal is often strongest during the first three days. Cravings, irritability and difficulty concentrating can occur.
What happens after 1 month
Withdrawal symptoms usually become less intense during the first month.
9 months
Coughing and shortness of breath often decrease during the first 1–12 months after quitting.
What happens after 1 year
Heart-attack risk falls sharply over the first 1–2 years after quitting.
5 years
During years 5–10, the added risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and voice box falls by about half, and stroke risk decreases.
10 years
During years 10–15, the added risk of lung cancer falls by about half compared with continued smoking.
What happens with your body after 20 years
By 20 years, the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box and pancreas is close to that of someone who does not smoke.
Sources
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