Smoking Cessation

Tobacco use is the most common preventable cause of death. Roughly half of the people who do not quit smoking will die of smoking-related problems. Quitting smoking is important for your health and it greatly reduces the risk of these developing smoking-related diseases.

Soon after you quit, your circulation begins to improve, and your blood pressure starts to return to normal. Your sense of smell and taste return, and it is easier for you to breathe. In the long term, giving up tobacco can help you live longer. Your risk of getting cancer decreases with each year you stay smoke-free.

Quitting is not easy. You may have short-term effects such as weight gain, irritability, and anxiety. Some people try to quit several times before they are successful. There are many ways to quit smoking. Some people stop "cold turkey" but tobacco and nicotine dependence often requires repeated treatments. Thankfully, there are many helpful treatments and resources for quitting. Many smokers benefit from step-by-step manuals, counseling, or medicines or products that help reduce nicotine addiction. Some people think that switching to e-cigarettes can help you quit smoking, but that has not been proven. Your health care provider can help you find the best way for you to quit.

Quitting smoking is not easy. The difficulty in quitting and staying tobacco-free is mainly due to the nicotine in cigarettes. Nicotine is a naturally occurring drug found in tobacco and is as addictive as heroin and cocaine. Over time, smokers become physically dependent and emotionally addicted to nicotine. This dependence causes unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you stop smoking.

Withdrawal symptoms can include any of the following:

• dizziness (which may last 1 to 2 days after quitting)
• depression
• feelings of frustration, impatience, and anger
• anxiety
• irritability
• sleep disturbances, including having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and having bad dreams or even nightmares
• trouble concentrating
• restlessness or boredom
• headaches
• tiredness
• increased appetite
• weight gain
• constipation and gas
• cough, dry mouth, sore throat, and nasal drip
• chest tightness
• slower heart rate

These symptoms can make the smoker start smoking again to boost blood levels of nicotine until the symptoms go away.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor about quit-smoking support, including counseling and medications that make quitting easier. It is never too late to quit, and help improves your chances of success.