I've been smoking for 20 years. What good will it do me to quit now?

There are plenty of reasons to quit smoking - improved health, savings in money, a cleaner environment and an improved personal appearance - regardless of your age. 
Almost 70 percent of smokers say they want to quit, but they don't want to face the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that occur, such as headaches, dizziness, anxiety, irritability, coughing, dry throat and hunger. Unfortunately, the addicted body craves nicotine and it needs a "fix" for the withdrawal symptoms to go away. The good news is these symptoms are not life threatening and they will go away. 

The American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that immediately upon quitting smoking, the body begins a series of changes and improvements that continue for years. All benefits are lost, however, by smoking just one cigarette per day. After smoking that last cigarette, health benefits are gained within: 20 minutes - Blood pressure and heart rate drop to normal. Temperature in hands and feet return to normal. Two days - The risk of heart attack decreases. The ability to taste and smell improves. Three to nine months - Lung function improves by up to 30 percent. Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease. One year - The risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker. Five years - The death rate from lung cancer is cut in half.