Around three days after quitting, most people will experience moodiness and irritability, severe headaches, and cravings as the body readjusts.
In as little as one month, a person’s lung function begins to improve. As the lungs heal and lung capacity improves, former smokers may notice less coughing and shortness of breath.
Below are details of what happens to the body systems of a regular smoker after ten years of smoking.
At 8 o’clock
Quitting cigarettes improves the oxygen flow of the former smoker, in a few days he begins to notice an improvement in smell, taste or skin.
After 12 hours
The body cleanses itself of excess carbon monoxide, returning levels to normal and increasing oxygen levels in the body.
After 24 hours
The risk of heart attack begins to decrease. Blood pressure is lowered, lowering the risk of heart disease from smoking-induced high blood pressure.

After 1 month
As the lungs heal and lung capacity improves, former smokers will notice less coughing and less difficulty breathing.
After 9 months
The lungs have healed significantly. Cilia, those delicate hair-like structures within the lungs that help expel mucus and fight infection, have now recovered.
After 5 years
After 5 years without smoking, the arteries and blood vessels begin to widen again, reducing the risk of stroke.
After 10 years
The chances of developing lung cancer and dying from it are roughly half that of someone who continues to smoke.