Smoking is the primary cause of preventable illness and death with 100,000 people dying every year in the UK as a result of their habit. On average, cigarette smokers die 10 years younger than non-smokers.
The good news is that upon quitting you immediately begin reaping the health benefits. Take a look at what sort of health improvements you can expect to experience:
| Time since quitting | Health benefits |
| 20 minutes | Pulse returns to normal. |
| 8 hours | Nicotine is reduced by 90% and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by 75%. Circulation improves. |
| 24 hours | Carbon monoxide and nicotine almost eliminated from the body. Lungs start to clear out smoking debris. |
| 48 hours | All traces of nicotine are removed from the body. The ability to taste and smell improves. |
| 72 hours | Breathing is easier. Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase. |
| 2-12 weeks | Circulation improves. |
| 1 month | Physical appearance improves - skin loses its grey pallor and becomes less wrinkled. |
| 3-9 months | Coughing and wheezing declines. |
| 1 year | Excess risk of a heart attack reduces by half. |
| 10 years | Risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a continuing smoker. |
| 15 years | Risk of a heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked. |