I want to reduce my health risks

You may think smoking helps you relax, but in the long run it makes your physical and mental health worse.

Most people are aware that smoking can lead to certain cancers and heart disease, but did you know it can also cause:

Hearing and vision loss

Dementia

Damage to your joints

Digestive issues

High blood pressure

It also impacts your physical appearance. Did you know smoking:

Makes you age faster

Stains your teeth

Leaves your skin looking tired and dull from lack of oxygen

Can cause your hair to thin and fall out

Can turn your fingers and nails yellow

Weakens your hair and nails

Makes skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis much worse

But don’t worry, because as soon as you stop, good things happen.

Health Tracker

What happens after...

20 mins 8 hrs 48 hrs 72 hrs 2–12 wks 3–9 mths 1 yr 10 yrs

After 20 minutes

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

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

Your carbon monoxide levels have dropped to that of a non-smoker. Your lungs are clearing out mucus and your senses of taste and smell are improving.

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 to 12 weeks

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

After 3 to 9 months

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

After 1 year

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

After 10 years

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