Student Health Services

 

Holloway Hall

Beneficial Health Changes and Withdrawal Symptoms

Almost immediately your body begins to repair some of the damage that nicotine has caused.

The chart below illustrates the beneficial health changes.

Time since quitting

Beneficial health changes that take place

20 minutes Blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal.
8 hours Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by half, oxygen levels return to normal.
24 hours Carbon monoxide will be eliminated from the body.
Lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris.
48 hours There is no nicotine left in the body.
Ability to taste and smell is greatly improved.
72 hours Breathing becomes easier.
Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase.
2 - 12 weeks Circulation improves.
3 - 9 months Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function is increased by up to 10%.
1 year   Risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.
10 years Risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker.
15 years Risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked.