Cigarette smoking is a preventable cause of death in the United States. If you have thought about quitting but haven’t been able to, here are some reasons why you should and some ways to do it.
Quitting smoking now can decrease your risk of getting smoking-related illnesses like:
Once you’ve decided to quit smoking, set your “target quit date” a few weeks away. In the time leading up to your quit day, try some of these ideas offered by the Tobacco Control Research Branch of the National Cancer Institute to help you successfully quit smoking.
For the best results, work with your doctor. Together, you can test your lung function and compare the results to those of a nonsmoking person. The results can be given to you as your “lung age.” Finding out your “lung age” right after having the test done may help you to stop smoking.
Your doctor can also discuss with you all of your options and refer you to smoking-cessation support groups. You may wish to use nicotine replacement (gum, patches, inhaler) or one of the prescription medications that have been shown to increase quit rates and prolong abstinence from smoking. But whatever you and your doctor decide on these matters, it will still be you who decides when an how to quit. Here are some techniques:
Switch Brands
Cut Down the Number of Cigarettes You Smoke
Don't Smoke "Automatically"
Make Smoking Inconvenient
Make Smoking Unpleasant
Just Before Quitting
On the Day You Quit
Telephone and Internet Support
Telephone, web-, and computer-based programs can offer you the support that you need to quit and to stay smoke-free. You can find many programs online, like the American Lung Association's Freedom from Smoking.
Immediately After Quitting
RESOURCES:
National Cancer Institute
http://smokefree.gov/
Tobacco Information and Prevention Source (TIPS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/index.htm
United States Department of Health and Human Services
1-800 Quit-Now
http://1800quitnow.cancer.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca/
The Lung Association
http://www.lung.ca/
References:
American Lung Association website. Available at: http://www.lungusa.org/. Accessed July 15, 2008.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/. Accessed July 15, 2008.
National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/. Accessed July 15, 2008.
3/25/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Parkes G, Greenhalgh T, Griffin M, Dent R. Effect on smoking quit rate of telling patients their lung age: the Step2quit randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2008;336:598-600.
7/6/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Myung SK, McDonnell DD, Kazinets G, Seo HG, Moskowitz JM. Effects of Web- and computer-based smoking cessation programs: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:929-937.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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