The Benefits of Stopping Smoking

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Stopping smoking is the single most important thing a smoker can do to improve their health and the benefits start immediately:

• 20 minutes Blood pressure and pulse 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 mucous 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%

The good news doesn't stop there:

• General Health Improves - Smokers have more coughs and colds than non-smokers and take longer to feel well again.
• Fitness Improves - Smoking makes it harder to exercise and reduces the benefits to your body.
• Appearance Improves - Skin starved of oxygen by smoking becomes dry and grey. Wrinkles around the eyes and mouth develop much earlier and the tar stains your teeth and fingers.
• Sense of Smell Improves - Cigarette smoke has an unpleasant odour that lingers on everything from skin and hair to clothing and curtains and is a major cause of bad breath.
• Self-esteem Improves - Quitting smoking is a marvellous achievement. People may comment on how well you have done. Contrary to popular belief, smoking actually erodes confidence and increases stress levels.
• Sex-life Improves - men who smoke heavily during their teens and 20s, risk developing erection problems in their 30s and 40s - distressing for men and their partners. Giving up smoking can have almost immediate positive effects for someone's sex life.

Stopping smoking brings other health benefits:

• Smokers with diabetes reduce their risk of heart disease
  
• Decline in lung function slows down
  
• Risk of having a stroke is reduced
  

Smokers who quit before the age of 45 have a life expectancy close to that of people who have never smoked. For people above this age, enjoy considerable health benefits over those who continue to smoke.

By quitting smoking, the risk of contracting serious smoking related disease is dramatically cut:

• 5 years after quitting the risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker
  
• 10 years after quitting the risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker and the risk of a heart attack is similar to that of someone who has never smoked
  
• 15 years after quitting the health of an ex-smoker is effectively the same as someone who has never smoked

Financial benefits
A pack of 20 cigarettes now costs around £5.00. In a way, giving up smoking is like getting a pay rise of over £1800 a year if you smoke 20 cigarettes a day. People who quit often treat themselves as an incentive to remain smoke-free.

Smoking has become less socially acceptable
Smoking is now prohibited in many public places and tobacco advertising is now banned in the UK.

Smoking in the workplace is becoming less commonplace with smokers having to go outside if they want to smoke. Smoking is no longer considered as a social norm and a recent poll by the NHS Smoking Helpline (2004) reported, "75% of smokers consider smoking to be socially unacceptable".

Freedom from addiction
Most smokers do not smoke out of choice but because they are addicted to nicotine. The majority know that smoking is detrimental to their health and more than 70% would like to quit smoking.

Those who quit are no longer subject to the consequences of tobacco dependence and the unsettling symptoms of nicotine withdrawal in between cigarettes.

Help is available
There is a national network of NHS Stop Smoking Services who are there to provide confidential friendly, professional advice and treatment to any smoker who wants to quit. Tel 0800 169 0 169 and ask for information about your local service