Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking has major and immediate health benefits for men and women of all ages. The benefits apply to both who have smoking related diseases and those who don't. Former smokers live longer than continuing smokers, and the benefits of quitting extend to those who quit at older ages. For example, people who quit smoking before the age of 50 have 50% decreased chances of dying when compared to continuing smokers.

There are two types of health benefits, one is the immediate and the other is the long term benefits. The Immediate benefits are that Nicotine and carbon monoxide leave the body in the first few hours after stopping smoking, although it may take up to two days for nicotine by-products to leave the body. Within a month of cessation, blood pressure returns to the normal level, and lung function has improved. After around three months, the lungs may have regained the capacity to clean themselves properly, depending on whether irreparable lung damage has occurred, and blood flow to the limbs will have improved.

The Long term benefits are that Ten years after stopping smoking, the ex-smoker's risk of developing lung cancer declines to between 30-50% of the risk in continuing smokers, and risk continues to decline with abstinence. Quitting smoking also lowers the risk of laryngeal cancer, and reduces the extent and severity of premalignant cellular changes in the lining of the larynx and the lungs. Further stopping smoking halves the risk of mouth and esophageal cancers after five years of quitting. The risk of cervical cancer is substantially lower among former smokers than current smokers, even in the first few years following cessation.