Tobacco Cessation: Breaking Your Addiction
"Neither you nor, more importantly perhaps, those who love you, should have to face a fight like this. It turns out that quitting is not nearly as tough as not quitting."
Lung cancer victim Phil Walters, 57.
FEDER. R., Phil Walters, TV news reporter
Chicago Sun-Times, 9/13/00You CAN quit and we can help!
How is tobacco affecting your life? Do you want to quit and/or have you tried to quit? Do you feel you are ready and committed to quitting, even though you know how hard it will be? Quitting tobacco may be one of the hardest things you will ever do but YOU CAN DO IT.
Why Quit?
Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family. The benefits go way beyond the money saved, the sweeter breath, and the "lost cough". And it doesn't take years for these benefits to happen. The many health benefits from quitting are immediate and substantial. So, is it worth quitting?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the immediate benefits to quitting smoking?
There are many physical benefits to quitting smoking. Almost immediately, a person's circulation begins to improve and the carbon monoxide (chemical carcinogen found in cigarettes) level in the blood begins to decline. A person's pulse rate and blood pressure, which are abnormally high while smoking, begin to return to normal. Within a few days of quitting, a person's sense of taste and smell return, and breathing becomes increasingly easier.
What are the long term benefits to smoking cessation?
People who quit smoking live longer than those who continue to smoke. After 10 to 15 years, a previous smoker's risk of premature death approaches that of a person who has never smoked.
How does the risk for the development of certain cancers change when a person has quit smoking?
Smoking cessation greatly reduces a person's risk for developing cancer, and this benefit increases the longer a person remains "smoke free." Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women, and the most significant risk factor for the development of lung cancer is cigarette smoking. The risk for developing lung cancer (and cancer of the pancreas) gradually declines until, within 10 years, the risk is 30 to 50 percent below that of a person who continues to smoke. The risk for the development of cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus lessens significantly 5 years after quitting. The risk of developing bladder cancer and cancer of the cervix is also reduced after just a few years of being smoke free.
At what age is smoking cessation the most beneficial?
Smoking cessation benefits men and women at any age. Some older adults may not perceive the benefits to quitting smoking; however, research shows that people 60 to 64 years of age who quit smoking are 10 percent less likely to die during the next 15 years than regular smokers. Individuals who quit smoking before the age of 50 see even greater health benefits. Their risk of dying in the next 15 years is half that of a person who smokes. Additional, immediate benefits (such as improved circulation, and increased energy and breathing capacity) are also good reasons for older adults to become smoke free.
Are there benefits to smoking cessation for persons who have an existing health or medical condition?
There are many benefits to smoking cessation for persons who are sick or who have already developed cancer. Persons who quit smoking reduce their risk for developing another primary cancer. Persons who quit also have a longer survival expectancy. Smoking cessation reduces the risk for developing infections, such as pneumonia, which often causes death in patients with other existing diseases.
Links
- What Happens to Your Body After Your Last Cigarette?
- Nicotine Anonymous
- Surgeon general's "You Can Quit Smoking" Consumer Guide
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Photography: Brian Allen; Nelsons Photography
