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 the level of carbon monoxide in your blood drops dramatically.
• After 72 hours, the sense of taste and smell improve.
• From two weeks, lung function and circulation improves.
• From one month, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
• After one year, the risk of coronary heart disease is halved compared to continuing smokers.
• After five years, the risk of stroke is reduced and the risk of mouth and throat cancer decreases.
• After 10 years, the risk of lung cancer death is reduced by half.
• After 15 years, the risk of heart disease is 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 13 QUIT (13 7848) or visit www.quitnow.info.au