Newbies,

Congratulations on quitting! Here is what you can expect in terms of benefits:

Short and Long-Term Benefits
20 minutes after the last cigarette
•    Blood pressure drops to normal.
•    Pulse rate drops to normal.
•    Hand and foot temperature rises to normal.
8 hours after the last cigarette
•    Blood carbon monoxide levels drop to normal.
•    Blood oxygen level increases to normal.
1 day after the last cigarette:
•    Chances of heart attack and stroke start decreasing.
2 days after the last cigarette:
•    Sense of taste and smell begin to heighten.
•    Certain nerve endings begin to re-grow.
•    Nicotine by-products are removed from the body.
3 days after the last cigarette
•    Bronchial tubes start to relax, making breathing easier.
•    Lung capacity begins to improve.
2 to 12 weeks after the last cigarette
•    Walking and aerobic exercises become easier.
1 month after the last cigarette
•    Circulation improves.
•    You experience more energy.
1 to 3 months after the last cigarette
•    Lung function increases up to 30 percent.
•    Bronchial cilia begin to re-grow, there is an increased ability to clean lungs, chances of infection are reduced, and pollutants are cleared.
•    Overall body energy increases.
1 to 12 months after the last cigarette
•    Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease.
2 to 4 after the last cigarette
•    The risk of developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease reduces by 5%.
1 year after the last cigarette
•    The risk of developing Coronary Heart Disease reduces by 50%.
2 years after the last cigarette
•    The risk is reduced for recurrence of ulcers.
•    The ability for short-term healing is improved.
•    The risk of death from heart disease declines 24%.
3 years after the last cigarette
•    The risk of heart attack and stroke approaches that of someone who has never smoked.
5 years after the last cigarette
•    The risk of developing mouth, esophageal, throat and bladder cancer reduces by 50%.
5 to 15 years after the last cigarette
•    The risk of stroke reduces to that of someone who has never smoked.
10 years after the last cigarette
•    Pre-cancerous cells are replaced by healthy, normal cells.
•    There is a 50% to 70% reduction in the risk of developing lung cancer.
•    The risk of pancreatic cancer is reduced.
10 to 14 years after the last cigarette
•    The risk of developing Heart Disease drops to that of someone who never smoked.
15 years after your last cigarette
•    The risk of developing lung cancer is the same as non-smokers.
•    For Congestive Heart Disease, the risk reduces to the same as someone who has never smoked.
Which benefit are you most looking forward to?