Smoking Cessation Information

 Cigarette smoking is the leading contributor to preventable deaths in the United States.

More than a million Americans quit smoking each year. Smoking dramatically increases the risk of death from: Heart attack,  Stroke- 4x more likely for a man, 5x more likely for a woman (35-64 years of age). Smoking is responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths. 40-50% in men. Smoking weakens your immune system, irritates the lining of your lungs and impairs respiration.

 Women are especially affected  in reproductive and other women’s health issues including. Cervical cancer, osteoporosis. Infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), menstrual and/or hormonal problems,  earlier menopause, complications during pregnancy, labor and delivery. Female smokers who take birth control pills are at a greater risk for blood clots, high blood pressure (hypertension) and stroke.

Everyone knows tobacco smoking is harmful. Many people are unaware of the number of toxins in tobacco smoke. Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds, including nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide.  Nicotine is an addictive drug, which when inhaled in cigarette smoke reaches the brain faster than drugs that enter the body intravenously

They greatly increase your risk for a number of conditions that threaten your life and quality of life

 Can you succeed?

 The answer is a resounding yes. The great majority of people are “Intellectually” ready to stop smoking. However, many people waver “emotionally”.This  can be related to the nicotine addiction or to their social situations or the use of nicotine to relieve stressful situations.

40% succeed the first time they   make a serious attempt to quit.

15% more quit on their second attempt.

15% more quit after their third attempt.

10% still fail after 6 or more attempts.

There are a few things to start you on your way to a smoke free life.

 What can a person do when they make the decision to quit?

 The day  you make your decision most people get rid of all cigarettes, ashtrays matches and lighters. A good time to start your program is on the weekend  so you can spend the day washing all your clothes and linens to remove the smell of cigarettes.

Spending time in the car means that you should thoroughly clean the inside of the car including the windows and remove the cigarette lighter if you have one.

 It is also a good idea to freshen up your home especially the rooms you most use. Buy an air deodorizer, clean the carpets and perhaps  make a commitment to buy fresh flowers each week. The cost is usually about the same as one days cigarettes.

 Everyone knows that the first week is the most difficult. These common sense suggestions can help you do it.

 Change your  daily  habit patterns that end up with you reaching for a cigarette. Spend time in places where smoking is not permitted and don’t hang out where smokers are. These are situations where smoking is obviously more  likely.

Eating or drinking usually includes lighting up a cigarette afterwards.  Add something to your meal at the end that makes you not want that cigarette.

  Identify the best ways that you use routinely to reduce stress in your life and on a daily basis and use them to reduce the likelihood of a stress crisis.

 Have strategies when a craving hits

 Here is an excellent  website source that is interactive and will help support you with your efforts. We always request that our patients use this site when they start our SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM

 Stop Smoking Now  

 What should people expect after the first week?

 When a person stops smoking , their bodies begin repairing the damage created by the physiological changes created by tobacco smoke. The time it takes to see results begins almost immediately. Some effects  will be noticed sooner than others and changes from quitting include:

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 The changes that your will notice include the ability to breath better and  the senses of tasting food and smelling aromas come back most quickly.

 Nicotine Dependence

It is well established that nicotine meets the criteria of an addictive drug. It takes about ten seconds to reach the brain after your first inhalation. However not all smokers are Nicotine dependent.

 Withdrawal Symptoms

 Not everyone has all the possible withdrawal symptoms and some may take  from a week to a few months to no longer be felt. 

  Additional Resources to help stop smoking