Benefits on a Timeline
Smoking is detrimental to your health. It is responsible for hundreds of thousands of death each year, and the health consequences of smoking are vast and quite serious. Luckily, there are many health benefits to quitting smoking; benefits that can be identified minutes after you drop that last cigarette!
The Quit Smoking Timeline below let’s you preview the health benefits and money savings of quitting smoking. It is important to understand that your body can heal and your health will improve. And let’s not forgot about the financial benefit of saving lots of money.
| Time | Your Health Benefits | Savings * |
|
 |
20 Minutes |
Within 20 minutes of smoking your last cigarette, your body begins to sigh with relief. This is because your blood pressure immediately begins to drop, along with your pulse rate. The temperature in your hands and feet begins to increase because your body’s circulatory system is working better now, so if you are a smoker with perpetually cold hands and feet, you should begin to notice the health benefits of quitting smoking quite quickly. |
|
|
8-12 Hours |
Within a few hours of quitting smoking, your blood is feeling the effects. Levels of carbon monoxide in your blood are dropping and wonderful oxygen is taking its place. Soon your blood stream will be considered normal. You may find that even taking a deep breath is easier. |
$1.50 |
|
24 Hours |
With a day of quitting smoking, your heart and lungs have already begun repairing themselves. Can you feel them thanking you already? |
$3 |
|
48 Hours |
Within two days of quitting smoking, your sense of smell is getting better, and you may notice that you can smell and taste better than when you were smoking. It may be time to stop and smell the roses! |
$6 |
|
2 Weeks to 3 Months |
Within a couple weeks of quitting, your lungs are now working better, and you may notice that a casual stroll is easier and you don’t breathe as hard when you are exercising. In addition, the phlegm you typically produce as a result of smoking is decreasing, thereby decreasing your need to cough so much. |
$42 – $270 |
|
1 to 9 Months |
Have you noticed by now that your yellow teeth are fading, your hair and your clothes don’t smell, and the yellow stains on your fingers are gone? Have you also noticed that your home and car no longer smell of cigarettes, and that your breath is much fresher? Welcome to the world of non-smokers! |
$30 – $810 |
|
1 Year |
After just one year of kicking the habit your risk of coronary heart disease has dropped to half that of a smoker! Your heart is really thanking you for your choices now! |
$1,095 |
|
More than 5 Years |
As each year passes, your risk of stroke is decreasing, and will continue to do so for many years. |
$5,475 and up |
|
After 10 Years |
After 10 years of quitting, your risk of lung cancer has dropped to half that of smokers. In addition, your rate of developing cancer of the mouth, the throat, the esophagus, the pancreas, the kidneys and the bladder has also decreased. |
$10,950 and up |
|
After 15 Years |
After 15 years of putting out your last cigarette, your risk of coronary heart disease is the same as people who never smoked! Your risk of dying in general is also that of a non-smoker. |
$16,425 and up |
Congratulations on doing something great for your long-term health! There are many benefits to quitting smoking, and your good health is certainly the number-one benefit.
(*) The savings calculation assumes that you smoke 1/2 pack a day at a cost of $6 per pack of tobacco cigarettes!
What to do next
Consider different methods of quitting tobacco cigarettes including electronic cigarettes which have dramatically increased in popularity since 2000. With e-cigarettes you continue to take in nicotine but you quit tobacco and tar. The product has received many positive reviews and testimonials.
To learn more visit this electronic cigarette review website with valuable consumer reviews and guidance.
An electronic cigarette is a battery powered smoking device delivering nicotine by vaporizing a solution into mist/vapor. Unlike other tobacco alternatives you do continue the actual physical experience of smoking.
Electronic cigarettes consist of a battery, an atomizer (also known as vaporizer), and a cartridge/cartomizer holding the nicotine solution.
When drawing on the device you inhale flavored vapor enriched with nicotine and the LED on the tip of it lights up to simulate a glow.
I was a 2-3 pack day smoker untill 3 weeks ago. I got stick with food poisoning and couldn’t smoke, didn’t want to, then just decided to quit. Cravings were bad for first week. I don’t think about it anymore other than out of habit. The other day I was having some emotional problems and my instinct was to roll a cigarette… good thing I had thrown everything away! If you’re really ready to quit, throw everything away, lighters, tobacco, papers, rollers etc… it makes it that much harder to slip up.
Good news I stopped19 days ago also 2-3 pack per day just take it one day at a time yesterday I had a lot going on to, I wanted to smoke but I took a deep breath remembered most cravings only last three minutes .After it passed I told myself that I have to accept my life is now as a non smoker .Good luck Judith
I was a pack a day smoker for 15 years, its been 75 days and I couldnt be happier and felt better. Yes I still do get urges in stressful situations or other social situations where smoking was the normal for me but you can get past it. Just know that you are better off and whether it be cancer risk or the risk of losing body parts, SMOKING IS TERRIBLE FOR YOU. Good luck everyone and stay strong
Thanks I like hearing everyone’s stories .Good job can’t wait till I can say seventy five days ,each day as the numbers get higher I feel better and stronger. My friend give me encouragement and say wow I can’t believe it you haven’ had one in 20 days its a miracle I smoke like a fiend .