Smoking cigarettes can permanently damage your heart and blood vessels leading to cardiovascular disease. We all know smoking is harmful. But did you know your body begins to repair itself just 20 minutes after your last tobacco use? The following timeline describes the benefits you will acquire minutes to years after your last puff. 20 minutes after your last tobacco use Blood pressure decreases Pulse rate drops Body temperature of hands and feet increases 8 hours after your last tobacco use Oxygen level in blood increases to normal 24 hours after your last tobacco use Chance of heart attack decreases Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal 48 hours after your last tobacco use Sense of smell and taste improve Nerve endings start re-growing Nicotine is eliminated from the body 2 weeks – 3 months after your last tobacco use Circulation improves Walking becomes easier Lung function increases 1 – 9 months after your last tobacco use Less sinus congestion More energy Less coughing Improvement in shortness of breath 1 – 2 years after your last tobacco use Excess risk of coronary artery disease decreases to half that of a smoker 5 years after your last tobacco use Risk of stroke returns to level of a non-smoker 10 years after your last tobacco use Risk of lung cancer lowers to half that of a smoker As you can see breaking up with this bad habit will have a profound effect on your health. If you are a smoker with a strong desire to quit visit Cancer.net for a full list of resources. For more tips on heart health visit mclaren.org/northernheartmonth