Coronary Heart-Disease Risk Is Close to a Non-Smoker's
The CDC describes coronary heart-disease risk falling close to that of someone who does not smoke after 15 years.
What happens to your body 15 years after quitting smoking
At fifteen years, the CDC says coronary heart-disease risk is close to that of someone who does not smoke. This is a major long-term benefit, but it is not a universal full-recovery label: some cancer risks continue declining beyond fifteen years and personal health still depends on many factors.
Health timelines are population-level guides. Individual recovery varies with smoking history, health and treatment. Review the general guidance from the CDC and NHS.
Frequently asked questions
Is 15 years a full-recovery endpoint?
No. It is a cardiovascular comparison from a population timeline. Other risks follow different schedules, and individual health varies.
Is quitting still worthwhile later in life?
Yes. The CDC says quitting benefits health at any age, including after many years of smoking.