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Summary
This briefing summarises evidence on the benefits of smoking cessation, focusing on gains within
the first year of stopping smoking.
■The largest health gain in the first year is a 50% reduction in excess risk of fatal and non-fatal
heart attack in those who are 35+ years old. This represents 14 premature deaths prevented
for every 1,000 middle aged or older smokers who stop
■For those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) there are fewer hospital
admissions and deaths because of a reduction in acute episodes known as ‘exacerbations’
■Within three months there is improvement in overall lung function in people with mild to
moderate COPD
■Erectile dysfunction reduces within one month
■There is a reduction in periodontal disease within one year
■In smokers undergoing surgery, wound healing is improved and risk of post-operative
complications reduced
■In pregnant smokers, risk of low birth weight reduces, and risk of pre-term birth, spontaneous
abortion, maternal and perinatal death decreases
■Facial appearance (pallor and wrinkles) improves within one month
■Improved sense of taste and smell occurs within 12 months
■Overall life satisfaction increases within one year
■Anxiety and depression levels decrease within three to six months
■Ex-smokers save an average of £1,300 in the first year on the cost of cigarettes
Quick wins: the short-term benefits
of stopping smoking
© 2013 National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT)
Author: Lion Shahab
Editor: Andy McEwen
Reviewers: Susan Michie and Robert West
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Briefing: 12
1. Background
Stopping smoking improves healthy life expectancy by an average of six hours for each day of
smoking prevented after early middle age,1 up to approximately 10 years in both men and women
if they stop smoking in their 30s.
For most smokers this benefit does not accrue until later in life. Many smokers and public bodies
for whom smoking represents a financial cost are interested in knowing what benefits can be
expected much sooner than that. This briefing summarises evidence on benefits that can be
expected within the first year of stopping.
2. Methods
Electronic research databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar) were reviewed
using the terms ”benefit”, “advantage”, “improvement”, “amelioration” or “gain” and the
terms “short-term”, “immediate”, “acute”, “rapid”, “instant” or “quick” in addition to terms
for smoking cessation. Where existing reviews were found these were used. Otherwise, primary
research findings were analysed and summarised.
3. Results
Physical health
Table 1 shows the expected physical health benefits from stopping smoking. The most notable
benefits are improved lung functioning (including a decrease in COPD symptoms), lower
heart rate, decrease in risk to the babies of smokers and faster wound healing.
Quick wins: the short-term benefits of stopping smoking
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Table 1: Expected physical health benefits within 12 months of smoking cessation
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Respiratory
Improvement in pulmonary CO
diffusing capacity2,3 and
pulmonary epithelial
permeability4
Improvement in FEV1,
decreased sputum neutrophils
in asthmatics12
Decrease in COPD/respiratory
disease symptoms (wheeziness,
expectoration, cough) and
reduced severity17–19
Improved airway hyper-activity
and respiratory symptoms in
asthmatics21
Improved FEV1 and reduced
airway inflammation in healthy
smokers or smokers with mild
COPD;28–30 improved airway
hyper-reactivity and decreased
epithelial remodelling in COPD
patients30, 31
Improvement in
coronary vaso-
constriction, lipid
and fibrinolytic
profile and
oxidative injury5–7
Lowered arterial
pressure and
heart rate13, 14
Improved airway
hyper-activity
and respiratory
symptoms in
asthmatics21
Decreased risk of
primary as well
as secondary
CHD11, 32, 33
including MI;34, 35
improved survival
following surgery
for PAD11
Improvement in
hemodynamics,
rigidity and
tumescence in
men with erectile
dysfunction8, 9
Possible
improvement in
sperm quality20
Excess risk of low
birth weight and
associated
complications
eliminated23–25
Perinatal death
and preterm
delivery likely to
be reduced11
Reduction in daily
gastro-esophageal
reflux,10 faster
gastric ulcer
healing11
Faster healing of
duodenal ulcers,26
reduced recurrence
of gastric ulcer27
Reduction in
duodenal ulcer
relapse and
Crohn’s disease
flare-up36, 37
Reduced post-
operative
complications and
improved wound
healing15, 16
Improved
olfaction38
<1 months
<2 months
<3 months
<4 months
<6 months
<9 months
<12 months
GeneralVascular
*
Re-productive Gastro-intestinal
SystemTime
since
quit
Table 1: Rapid health gains from stopping smoking; *Generally, most pronounced benefits are seen in those with pre-existing
conditions; CO: carbon monoxide, COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, FEV1: Forced-expiratory volume in one second;
CHD: Coronary heart disease, PAD: Peripheral arterial disease
Wellbeing
Below, a number of other positive effects of smoking cessation that occur within a relatively
short amount of time are presented. These include healthier appearance of the skin and
improvement of bad breath; also increased self-confidence, more social interaction and greater
engagement in other healthy behaviours.
Aesthetic improvements
■Smoking is associated with a number of oral conditions such as bad breath, stained
teeth and periodontal disease and these tend to be quickly reversible in the early stages
after smoking cessation39, 40
■Smoking also has dermatological consequences, and there are a number of rapid
improvements following smoking cessation, such as a reduction in the recurrence of
psoriasis, palmoplantar pustolosis and skin ulcers41
■Smoking cessation also improves the appearance of skin and nails in the absence of nicotine
staining and a halting in the aging of skin and formation of wrinkles which is enhanced
in smokers42
Psychosocial improvements
■There is evidence that smoking cessation is not only a consequence of higher self-confidence
(or self-efficacy) but that smoking cessation itself causes improvements in both these
cognitions within a short timeframe11, 43–45
■Studies increasingly suggest that as former smokers play an active role in structuring social
interactions and support, so as to maintain abstinence and remain at the centre of social
networks, continuing smokers become pushed to the periphery and socially isolated11, 46
Improvements in other health behaviours
■Smoking cessation appears to go hand in hand with fairly rapid improvements and orientation
towards other healthy life choices including increases in exercise, healthy dieting, reduction
in alcohol consumption and taking part in health screening programs11, 47–51
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Mental health
There is increasing evidence that stopping smoking yields improvement in psychological
well-being and that this occurs relatively soon after the quit date. Whilst low mood, anxiety and
feeling generally unwell are common withdrawal symptoms, they are relatively short-lived.52
In fact, within a year of stopping smoking, ex-smokers’ life enjoyment and satisfaction levels
start to increase towards the levels of a never smoker.53 Moreover, the majority of recent
ex-smokers report feeling happier than when they were a smoker.54
In terms of mental illness, there is also good evidence that the benefits from smoking cessation
are experienced relatively rapidly. Anxiety levels can start to decrease from one week after
quitting55 and this is maintained at six months, leading to a reduction in the prevalence of anxiety
disorders among ex-smokers.56
The prevalence of anxiety and depression decreases within 12 months of stopping smoking in
the general population and is not associated with any an worsening of symptoms following
smoking cessation among those with a history of mental health problems.57–59
Financial gains
Stopping smoking results in obvious financial gains. Recent data from the UK show that on
average smokers spent £5.45 for 20 hand-rolled cigarettes and £6.06 for 20 manufactured
cigarettes.60 Given that the latest figures show that smokers on average consume 12.4 cigarettes
a day,61 this means a weekly spend on cigarettes of £23.7 for hand-rolled and £26.3 for
manufactured cigarette smokers, or £1,232.40 and £1,367.60 per year; equivalent to 5.2%
of the average UK household spend.62
Conclusion
There are many immediate benefits or “quick gains” from stopping smoking: ranging from
improvements in physical and mental health, general well-being and appearance, plus substantial
financial savings.
Making those struggling to quit aware of these acute and rapid positive effects of smoking
cessation, and asking them to self-monitor to observe these improvements for themselves,
may strengthen their motivation to remain abstinent and provide further reasons to stick with
a quit attempt.
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NCSCT
The National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) was established to support the delivery
of smoking cessation interventions provided by local stop smoking services, support the NHS and Local
Authorities to deliver effective evidence-based tobacco control programmes, and deliver training and
assessment programmes to stop smoking practitioners and other health care professionals.
Contact details:
Telephone enquiries: 020 3137 9071
Email: enquiries@ncsct.co.uk
NCSCT
1– 6 Yarmouth Place,
London,
W1J 7BU
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