Why should I quit smoking?
If you smoke, the decision to quit smoking is the most important step you can take to protect your lungs and overall health. It is NEVER too late to quit. If you quit you will:
- prolong your life
- decrease your risk of disease (including lung cancer, throat cancer, emphysema, heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, and other conditions)
- reduce your risk of respiratory and anesthesia complications after an operation
- decrease the chance that your children will become sick (respiratory infections are more common among children exposed to secondhand smoke)
- feel healthier (after quitting, you won’t cough as much, have as many sore throats, and will have an increased energy level)
- improve your sense of taste and smell
- improve your looks (smoking can cause face wrinkles, stained teeth, and dull skin)
- save money
What’s the best way to quit smoking?
There is no best way to quit smoking because everyone has different smoking patterns. What works best for one person may have little impact on someone else. For this reason, the best smoking cessation programs offer several proven methods, not just one.
The Cleveland Clinic Tobacco Treatment Center offers a variety of methods to help people who want to become nonsmokers. Our program offers:
An individualized treatment plan. A certified tobacco specialist determines how dependent you are on nicotine, how ready you are to quit, and your preferred method of learning. The specialist will develop a treatment plan specifically designed for you to give you the best chance of quitting successfully.
Use of a combination of medications and behavioral therapy. Your treatment plan includes the latest tobacco treatment medications such as bupropion, and nicotine replacement therapies (e.g., nicotine gum or the patch). Behavior therapies include walking, reading material, web-based programs, and individual or group counseling.
Follow-up. The tobacco treatment specialist follows up on your progress, offer tips and celebrates your successes. Cleveland Clinic Tobacco Cessation specialists developed the PQRS strategy to help you quit:
Prepare: You need a little time before you quit –14 to 30 days is usually optimal – to prime your mind and body for success.
Quit: Anti-craving drugs and nicotine replacement therapy will lessen your urge to smoke, but several additional resources are available to help you on your journey to a tobacco-free life.
Relapse Prevention: Develop the ability to identify situations that may cause you to slip and learn new skills to prevent relapse.
Stress Management: Find several alternatives to reaching for tobacco to cope with stress.
What's the next step?
You need to decide to give yourself the most precious gift a smoker can give to him or herself – a gift of life, health, and self-esteem – by becoming a nonsmoker. Treatment costs less than a pack of cigarettes a day, and varies based on the personalized plan developed for each individual and his or her ability to pay.
To learn more about the Cleveland Clinic Tobacco Treatment Center, please call 216.444.8111. Appointments can be made at Main Campus, Beachwood, Chagrin Falls, Independence, Fairview, Solon, Strongsville, Westlake, Willoughby, and Wooster Family Health Centers.
© Copyright 1995-2009 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved.
Can't find the health information you’re looking for?
Ask a Health Educator, Live!
Know someone who could use this information?...send them this link.
This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 12/16/2008...#11870
