Quick wins: the short-term benefits of stopping smoking

Stopping smoking is possibly the single most important step a person can take to improve their well-being, whatever their age.

Despite the benefits of smoking cessation being self-evident, however, because of the long time horizon of benefits generally associated with smoking cessation, more acute gains from stopping smoking may be more motivating, especially for younger smokers.

This briefing summarises evidence relating to short-term positive consequences of smoking cessation, covering quick gains within the first year of stopping smoking related to physical and mental health, financial as well as psychosocial, behavioural and cosmetic improvements.