From the American Cancer Society

As soon as you smoke your last cigarette, your

body will begin a series of biological changes.

ç Within 20 minutes: Blood pressure, body temperature, and

pulse rate will drop to normal.

ç Within eight hours: Smokers breath disappears. Carbon

monoxide level in blood drops, and oxygen level rises to normal.

ç Within 24 hours: Chance of heart attack decreases.

ç Within 48 hours: Nerve endings start to regroup. Ability to

taste and smell improves.

ç Within three days: Breathing is easier.

ç Within two to three months: Circulation improves.

Walking becomes easier. Lung capacity increases up to 30

percent.

ç Within one to nine months: Sinus congestion and

shortness of breath decrease. Cilia that sweep debris from your

lungs grows back. Energy increases.

ç Within one year: Excess risk of coronary heart disease is

half that of a person who smokes.

ç Within two years: Heart attack risk drops to near normal.

ç Within five years: Lung cancer death rate for average

former pack-a-day smokers decreases by almost half. Stroke

risk is reduced. Risk of mouth, throat and esophageal cancer is

half that of a smoker.

ç Within 10 years: Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of

a person who does not smoke. The pre-cancerous cells are

replaced.

ç Within 15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease is the same

as a person who has never smoked.