If you smoke, you could die young from diseases caused by smoking like cancer or have a heart attack or stroke. Smoking damages your lungs by filling them with tar and increases your risk of cancer and of having your arms or legs amputated due to reduced blood flow. However, within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, your body begins to heal and your risks decrease over time, with your risk of cancer and heart disease decreasing to that of a non-smoker's within 15 years of quitting.

1. What could happen if you smoke?

2. What could happen if you start smoking? Every year hundreds of thousands of people around the world die from diseases caused by smoking cigarettes - Smoking KILLS. If you smoke, you could die.

3. More on DEATH One in two lifetime smokers will die from their habit. Half of these deaths will occur in middle age. If you smoke, you could die young.

4. About CANCER Tobacco smoke also contributes to a number of cancers. If you smoke, you could increase your chances of getting cancer.

5. Your HEART: an important organ If you smoke, you might have a heart attack or a stroke. The mixture of nicotine and carbon monoxide in each cigarette you smoke temporarily increases your heart rate and blood pressure, straining your heart and blood vessels.

6. Your arms and legs are ALSO VERY IMPORTANT It slows your blood flow, cutting off oxygen to your feet and hands. Some smokers end up having their limbs amputated. If you smoke, you could have to have your arms or legs amputated.

7. Tar coats your lungs like soot in a chimney and causes cancer. A 20-a-day smoker breathes in up to a full cup (210 g) of tar in a year. If you smoke, your lungs could be filled with TAR. The junk in your lungs

8. If you stop smoking… Within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of changes that continue for years. 20 Minutes After QuittingYour heart rate drops. 12 hours After QuittingCarbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

9. 2 Weeks to 3 Months After QuittingYour heart attack risk begins to drop.Your lung function begins to improve. 1 to 9 Months After QuittingYour coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

10. 1 Year After QuittingYour added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s. 5 Years After QuittingYour stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker’s 5-15 years after quitting.

11. Ahhhh…fresh air! 10 Years After QuittingYour lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker’s.Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases. 15 Years After QuittingYour risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker’s.