Shocking effect quitting smoking has on your body after 20 minutes

It's simply a well-known fact that smoking is absolutely terrible for your health.

Studies have shown that the habit can lead to a number of health and aesthetic issues, including hearing and vision loss, skin damage, dementia, joint damage, digestive issues, high blood pressure, anxiety, stress and, as we know, cancer - just to name a handful.

But the good news is that your body will start to heal almost immediately after you quit - 20 minutes after, to be precise.

Yep, within less than half an hour of puffing on your last cigarette, you'll experience some pretty shocking effects, starting with your heart rate and blood pressure typically dropping back down to normal levels, WebMD says.

Your body will experience positive effects from going without a cigarette in just 20 minutes (SimpleImages / Getty Images)

This is pretty important, given that high blood pressure is known as 'the silent killer' for its dangerous effects that often have no symptoms.

These include heart attack, stroke, loss of vision, and more.

A pulse that’s too fast is also harder on your heart and can cause things like tiredness, dizziness, chest pain, and breathing problems.

Meanwhile, after eight hours, harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide in your blood will have halved, making room for more oxygen to flow through your body.

Going 24 hours without smoking significantly lowers your risk of having a heart attack.

If you’ve already had a heart attack and cut out cigarettes, you cut your chance of having another one in half.

After 48 hours, you'll regain your sense of smell and taste.

Your heart rate and blood pressure would typically drop back down to normal levels (KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images)

Cigarette smoke inflames bronchial tubes, pathways through which air moves in and out of your lungs, which can make it harder to breathe.

However, it starts to get much better just 72 hours after you quit, as the tubes start to relax.

Blood circulation will see a major improvement between two to 12 weeks while lung function will significantly increase between one to nine months.

And, fast-forward to 10 years, your risk of dying from lung cancer is as much as half that of someone who still smokes.

Kicking the habit can also save you a considerable amount of dough.

Imagine you spend £14 on a pack of cigarettes. Here's what smoking half a pack a day adds up to over time:

• One month would cost around £213
• Six months would cost around £1,277
• One year would cost around £2,555
• Five years would cost around £12,775
• 10 years would cost around £25,550

You can find out more about quitting smoking on the official NHS website here.