Your body goes through a lot of changes when you give up smoking, all of which can improve your health:
After 20 minutes – blood pressure and pulse return to normal and circulation improves
After 8 hours – Oxygen levels in the blood return to normal and chances of a heart attack start to fall
After 24 hours - The lungs start to clear out mucous and other 'debris' and carbon monoxide levels in the blood return to normal
After 48 hours – Nicotine no longer present in the body and ability taste and smell improve
After 72 hours – breathing becomes easier and energy levels increase
2 to12 weeks – Circulation improves throughout the body, so walking becomes easier
3 to 9 months – breathing problems such as coughs and wheezing improve and lung function is increased by 5 – 10%
1 to 2 years – your risk of a heart attack is HALF what it would have been if you carried on smoking
3 years – risk of heart attack similar to a life-long non-smoker
10 years – you have halved your risk of lung cancer