AFTER THE LAST CIGARETTE

After less than 30 min of smoking your last cigarette:
 - pulse returns to normal*
 - blood pressure drops down to normal*
 - temperature of hands and feet increase to normal*

After 8 hours:
- blood's oxygen level returns to normal*
- carbon monoxide level in blood decreases to normal*

After 24 hours:
- risk of heart attack decreases

After 48 hours:
- sense of smell and taste increase
- nerve endings begin regrowth

After 72 hours:
- breathing becomes easier after bronchial tubes relax
- lung capacity increases

After 2 weeks to 3 months:
- lung ability increases by as much as 30%
- circulation improves
- walking is easier

After 1 to 9 months:
- body's energy level increases
- lungs increase their ability to handle mucus, reduce
 infection and clean themselves
- sinus congestion, coughing, fatigue, shortness of
breath decrease

After 5 years:
- death rate because of lung cancer decreases about 50%
for the average, one-pack-a-day smoker

After 10 years:
- death rate from lung cancer becomes about equal to that
of non-smokers
- risks for other cancers (mouth, larynx, pancreas,
bladder, kidney and esophagus) decrease
- pre-cancerous cells are replaced

* "Normal" refers to what was an average level for you
before smoking your last cigarette, depending on your
fitness level and other factors.

           . . . American Cancer Society information