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The Benefits of Quitting Now

Compared to smokers, your…

Stroke risk is reduced to that of a person who never smoked after 5 to 15 years of not smoking

Cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus risks are cut in half 5 years after quitting

Cancer of the larynx risk is reduced after quitting

Coronary heart disease risk is cut by half 1 year after quitting and is nearly the same as someone who never smoked 15 years after quitting

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk of death is reduced after you quit

Lung cancer risk drops by as much as half 10 years after quitting

Ulcer risk drops after quitting

Bladder cancer risk is halved a few years after quitting

Peripheral artery disease goes down after quitting

Cervical cancer risk is reduced a few years after quitting

Low birth weight baby risk drops to normal if you quit before pregnancy or during your first trimester

Within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of changes that will continue for years.

20 Minutes After Quitting
Your heart rate drops.

12 hours After Quitting
Carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting
Your heart attack risk begins to drop.
Your lung function begins to improve.

1 to 9 Months After Quitting
Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

1 Year After Quitting
Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.

5 Years After Quitting
Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker’s 5-15 years after quitting.

10 Years After Quitting
Your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker’s.
Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.

15 Years After Quitting
Your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker’s.

(Source:  Center for Disease Control)

Tell Your Story

Have you quit tobacco use or have a tobacco-related story about yourself or a loved one?

We need stories like yours to encourage people to quit and discourage kids from starting. 

Send us your story and receive a free t-shirt (while supplies last—for residents of Madison County, New York only).

We will share your story at our events and in our educational materials.  We will display your initials only—not your name—and will remove your initials too if you prefer.  We will not share your email address or other contact information with anyone without your permission; it will be kept confidential in our files and will be used only if we need to get in touch with you.

Email your story to us.