Try, Try Again

Even if you've tried to quit smoking and failed, there are still good reasons to keep on trying. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists some immediate and long-term health benefits when you quit:

• Twenty minutes after quitting your heart rate drops.

• Twelve hours after quitting the level of carbon monoxide in your blood returns to normal.

• Two weeks to three months after quitting your risk for heart disease drops and your lung function begins to improve.

• One to nine months after quitting coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

• One year after quitting your risk for coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.