Quit Smoking
On This Page
Why quit smoking?
Tobacco kills.
Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors for leading causes of death, such as stroke, heart disease, and lung cancer. A single major risk factor like smoking can increase your risk of developing one of these diseases.
Smoking damages nearly every organ in the body, causes many diseases, and impairs smokers’ overall health. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of smoking-related diseases and can add years to your life.
People who smoke or use other forms of tobacco are more likely to develop diseases and die earlier than people who do not use tobacco.
If you smoke, you may be concerned about the effects on your health.
You may also be worried about how hard it is to quit smoking.
Nicotine is highly addictive, and quitting smoking—especially without help—can be difficult.
In fact, most people don't succeed in quitting on their first try. It may take more than one try, but you can quit smoking.
Health Risks of Smoking
Estimates suggest that smoking increases the risk of:
2 to 4 times
for coronary heart disease
2 to 4 times
for stroke
25 times
for men experiencing lung cancer
25.7 times
for women experiencing lung cancer
01
Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging the airways and the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs.1,2 Lung diseases caused by smoking include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
02
Smoking can cause cancer in almost every part of the body:
• Bladder
• Blood (acute myeloid leukemia)
• Cervix
• Large intestine and rectum (colorectal)
• Esophagus
• Kidneys and ureters
• Larynx
• Heart
• Oropharynx, including the throat, tongue, soft palate, and tonsils
• Pancreas
• Stomach
• Trachea, bronchi, and lungs
03
Smoking is a cause of diabetes mellitus type 2 and can make it more difficult to manage. The risk of developing diabetes is 30–40% higher among active smokers than among nonsmokers.
04
Smoking can cause ectopic pregnancy in women, which occurs when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus. The egg cannot survive, and if left untreated, this condition can be life-threatening to the mother. Smoking also reduces fertility, making it harder to get pregnant.
05
Blindness, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration.
06
The effects of smoking affect not only the mother’s health but also that of her baby. Smoking during pregnancy can cause the baby to be born prematurely and/or with a low birth weight.
07
Smoking contributes to periodontitis, a gum infection that damages the bone supporting the teeth. This condition is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
08
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is more common in women and affects the joints of the hands and feet. Smoking is one of its causes and is also associated with the onset of the disease at a younger age.
Smoking Cessation Action Plan
Once you’ve decided to quit smoking, it’s time to develop your action plan.
One of the first steps in the plan is “Get support.”.
”Support can come from family, friends, doctors, counselors, support groups, or telephone-based smoking cessation services.”.
Support may also include the use of one or more medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help people quit smoking.
Another important step in a smoking cessation action plan is to plan how to deal with challenges.
For example, make a list of high-risk places you want to avoid when you start your plan to quit smoking.
Think of other places to visit where smoking isn't allowed, such as shopping malls, museums, or movie theaters.
Life Without Cigarettes
What does life without cigarettes mean? A life without cigarettes is your chance to live a healthier—and perhaps longer—life.
A life without cigarettes can also mean a better quality of life, with greater stamina and a heightened ability to enjoy tastes and aromas.
However, a life without cigarettes does not mean a life without stress. In fact, smokers often cite stress as the reason they start smoking again.
Instead of using nicotine to cope with stress, you need to learn new ways to deal with it. Be proactive.
You can read more about stress management.
For further assistance, talk to a doctor or mental health professional.