NHS Better Health - Let's do this
NHS

You’ve got what it takes to quit smoking this Stoptober

Sign up for daily email support

Sign up for the Stoptober email support to get daily tips and advice direct to your inbox throughout your 28 day quit, and occasional emails after that to help keep you on track.

You do not have to tell us your age, but if you do it will help us to understand who we are reaching in order to further improve our stop smoking support.
The below tick box field is required to proceed

What happens when you quit?

The sooner you quit, the sooner you’ll notice changes to your body and health.

After 20 minutes

After 20 minutes

Check your pulse rate, it will already be starting to return to normal.

After 8 hours

After 8 hours

Your oxygen levels are recovering, and the harmful carbon monoxide level in your blood will have reduced by half.

After 48 hours

After 48 hours

All carbon monoxide has gone. Your lungs will start clearing out mucus, and your sense of taste and smell is improving.

After 72 hours

After 72 hours

If you notice that breathing feels easier, it’s because your bronchial tubes have started to relax. Also your energy will be increasing.

After 2-12 weeks

After 2-12 weeks

Blood will be pumping through to your heart and muscles much better because your circulation will have improved.

After 3-9 months

After 3-9 months

Any coughs, wheezing or breathing problems will be improving as your lung function increases by up to 10%.

After 1 year

After 1 year

Great news! Your risk of heart attack will have halved compared to a smoker’s.

After 10 years

After 10 years

More great news! Your risk of death from lung cancer will have halved compared to a smoker’s.