You will experience immediate health benefits as soon as you put out your last cigarette, even if you already suffer health problems.

Benefits of quitting:

• Twelve hours after stopping, almost all nicotine is out of your system with most by-products gone within five days.
  
• After 24 hours, the level of carbon monoxide in your blood has dropped dramatically, meaning your body can take and use oxygen more efficiently.
• After two days, your taste and smell start to return.
• After two months, blood flow to your hands and feet improves.
• After three months, your lungs cleansing mechanisms will have completely recovered.
• After one year, there is a rapid decline in your risk of heart disease.
• After five years, your risk of stroke is the same as a similar aged person who has never smoked.
• After 10 years, your risk of lung cancer is reduced by half.
• After 15 years, your risk of heart disease will be almost the same as someone who has never smoked.

More information

For more information about quitting smoking, contact your doctor; the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20 or Quitline on 13 848 or visit www.quitnow.info.au