Quitting smoking has major and immediate health benefits for smokers of all ages.
After 1 year off cigarettes, the excess risk of heart disease caused by smoking is reduced by about half. After 10 years, the risk of lung cancer for former smokers drops to is less than one-half that of a continuing smoker. In five to 15 years, the risk of stroke for former smokers returns to the level of those who never smoked. Although brief interventions with these approaches are effective, more intensive interventions increase a smoker's chances for success. A variety of organizations including the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association actively support programs to encourage and assist people to stop smoking.