Full Recovery
Your risk of heart disease is now the same as someone who has never smoked.
What happens to your body 15 years after quitting smoking
Fifteen years after quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease is the same as someone who has never smoked a single cigarette. This is considered full cardiovascular recovery. The years of healing have allowed your arteries, blood vessels, and heart to return to a near-normal state. While some effects of very heavy smoking may linger, your overall health profile now matches that of a lifelong non-smoker when it comes to the number one killer associated with cigarettes. You did it.
Frequently asked questions
Is 15 years the point of full recovery?
For heart disease risk, yes — 15 years is when your risk equals that of a never-smoker. Some cancer risks continue to decline beyond 15 years, but the major health risks associated with smoking are essentially eliminated at this point.
Was quitting worth the effort?
The data is overwhelming. An ex-smoker who quit at age 30 gains roughly 10 years of life expectancy. Even quitting at 50 halves the risk of dying from a smoking-related disease. Every year smoke-free adds measurable health benefits.