Immediate Effects of Smoking Cessation

Cardiovascular Benefits

The European Society of Cardiology recommends that smoking cessation is associated with a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk, with stroke risk decreasing by 50% within the first year of cessation 4
After a myocardial infarction, smoking cessation is the single most effective preventive measure, with significant morbidity reductions reported within the first 6 months, according to the European Heart Journal 2
The mortality benefit for post-MI patients who quit is substantial (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.58-0.71) compared to continued smokers, as reported by the European Heart Journal 2

The American Thoracic Society notes that decreased irritative respiratory symptoms including cough and shortness of breath occur within days to weeks of smoking cessation 3
Improved lung function is measurable in the immediate period following cessation, according to the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 3
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommends that cessation is the only evidence-based intervention that improves prognosis by mitigating lung function decline in patients with COPD 5

The American Cancer Society reports that withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 24 hours of the last cigarette, peak acutely for 3-4 days, and usually extend to 3-4 weeks 6
Weight gain occurs in >75% of quitters, with mean gains of 2.8 kg in males and 3.8 kg in females, though this does not diminish the substantial cardiovascular benefit of cessation, as noted by the Annals of Oncology and Diabetes Care 6, 7

The American Diabetes Association recommends that smoking cessation is associated with amelioration of metabolic parameters within 1 year, including reduced blood pressure and albuminuria 7

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network notes that recent quitters have survival outcomes intermediate between never-smokers and current-smokers, suggesting measurable benefit even with recent cessation 3
Symptom burden during chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy is reduced in those who quit, according to the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 3

The European Heart Journal recommends that physician's firm and explicit advice to stop smoking completely is the most important factor in getting the cessation process started, with momentum particularly strong at the time of diagnosing cardiovascular disease 1