Cigarette smoking is one of the most preventable causes of death in the world. Each year, more than 5 million people die from diseases related to tobacco use, according to the World Health Organization. Smoking can lead to lung cancer, stroke and heart disease, among other health problems, and can shorten your lifespan by up to 14 years.
The good news? It’s never too late to quit smoking — and when you do quit, your body quickly begins to restore itself from all the damage caused by the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. See how your health — and life — improves in the moments, hours, months and years after you finally quit.