What happens when you quit smoking and start vaping?

After 8 hours

Carbon monoxide levels in your blood drop by half and oxygen levels slowly return to normal.

After 24-48 hours

Carbon monoxide levels have now returned to those of a non-smoker and most toxic chemicals from smoking have been flushed out. Your lungs begin clearing out mucus and other debris from smoke. Many people report their sense of taste and smell improving within two days.

After 72 hours

Your breathing will feel easier and less laboured as your lung capacity increases. You may find you have more energy and don't get winded as easily doing daily activities.

After 1-2 weeks

You've made it through the toughest part (good on you!) Your circulation improves, pumping more blood to your limbs. You find yourself feeling fresher and healthier, able to go about your day without feeling a shortness of breath. 42% of people notice they are breathing easier and 45% report feeling more energetic than before.

After 2-3 weeks

Your improved oxygen levels and circulation allow you to walk, run and exercise for much longer than while smoking. In one study, participants who switched to vaping showed a measurable boost in aerobic fitness (VO2 max) after only four weeks of quitting cigarettes.

After 1 month

Early lung function improvements become more noticeable. Coughing and wheezing continue to reduce. Scientific research confirms that within 1 month of switching from smoking to vaping, blood vessel function can improve noticeably, which is a sign of better cardiovascular health.

In a UK trial, chronic smokers who switched to e-cigarettes saw a 1.5 percentage point improvement in vascular function after one month, which corresponds to an estimated 13% reduction in heart attack risk.

After 3 months

Coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath are greatly reduced. From 3-9 months smoke-free your lung function increases by 10% and many quitters notice their 'smokers cough' going away. The UK government states that ex-smokers using e-cigarettes to quit see a significant reduction in cough and phlegm compared to those who don't.

After 9 months

Your lungs have significantly healed, the delicate cilia (tiny hair-like structures in airways) have recovered, helping keep your lungs clear. An ex-smoker's lung capacity and function at this point is noticeably better, which further reduces coughs and infections.

After 1 year

Your risk of a heart attack is now down by half compared to a person who is still smoking. The carbon monoxide and chemicals in tobacco that constricted your blood vessels and forced your heart to overwork are no longer present, so your cardiovascular system can finally take a breather.

After 2-5 years

Your risk of stroke, which was elevated by smoking, begins to decline substantially. Circulation and immune function keep improving year over year.

After 10 years

Your risk of dying from lung cancer is roughly cut in half compared to the risk if you had continued smoking. Ten years is a huge milestone where the likelihood of other cancers (mouth, throat, esophagus, etc.) is also much lower than a smoker's. In general, at the 10-year mark, the body has replaced many pre-cancerous cells with healthy cells.

After 15 years and further

At this point in your quitting journey, the risk of major health issues has reduced to that of someone who has never smoked. Essentially, the longer you stay off cigarettes, the closer your health gets to a non-smoker's baseline.