Also called: Also called: Quitting smoking
Tobacco use is the most common preventable cause of death. About half of the people who don't quit smoking will die of smoking-related problems. Quitting smoking is important for your health and provides many benefits. 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 breathing starts to become easier. 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 several times before succeeding. There are many ways to quit smoking. Some people stop "cold turkey." Others benefit from step-by-step manuals, counseling or medicines or products that help reduce nicotine addiction. Your health care provider can help you find the best way for you to quit.
National Cancer Institute
- Guide to Quitting Smoking(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Guide_for_Quitting_Smoking.asp
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Prevention and Cessation of Cigarette Smoking (PDQ): Control of Tobacco Use
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/control-of-tobacco-use/patient/
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Smokefree.gov(National Cancer Institute, Tobacco Control Research Branch) - http://www.smokefree.gov/
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Help for Smokers and Other Tobacco Users(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) - http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/tobacco/helpsmokers.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/tobacco/helpsmokerssp.htm
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JAMA Patient Page: Smoking Cessation(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/298/22/2700.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/298/22/2700/DC1/1
- Online Guide to Quitting(National Cancer Institute, Tobacco Control Research Branch) - http://smokefree.gov/guide/index.html
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Quitting Smoking: Why to Quit and How to Get Help(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cessation
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Quitting Tobacco: Challenges, Strategies, and Benefits(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/tobacco/quittingtips
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Smoking: Steps to Help You Break the Habit(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/addictions/tobacco/161.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/addictions/tobacco/161.printerview.html
- You Can Quit Smoking(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/you_can_quit/index.htm
- Exercise May Help Pregnant Women Stop Smoking(09/23/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69586.html
- Ex-Smokers Lower Their Cardiovascular Risk(09/22/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69542.html
- Nicotine Gum May Whiten Teeth Too(09/12/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69203.html
- More News on Smoking Cessation http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_s.html#smokingcessation
- Clinical Hypnotherapy(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/clinical_hypnotherapy/hic_clinical_hypnotherapy.aspx
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Nicotine Patch(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/addictions/tobacco/191.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/addictions/tobacco/191.printerview.html
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and Other Medications Which Aid Smoking Cessation(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=33566
- Stop-Smoking Products to Help You Quit(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/stop-smoking-products/HA00065/METHOD=print
- Helping a Smoker Quit: Do’s and Don’ts(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_3x_Help_Someone_Quit.asp?sitearea=PED
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How Can I Handle the Stress of Not Smoking?
(American Heart Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/110288071677933%20HandleStressNotSmoking.pdf
- Quitting Smoking - Help for Cravings and Tough Situations(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Help_for_Cravings.asp?sitearea=PED
- Skills to Help You Cope with Stopping Tobacco Use(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.org/stop-smoking/coping.html
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Be Smoke Free for Surgery(American Society of Anesthesiologists) - Links to PDF - http://www.asahq.org/PatientBrochure_%20For%20Posting.pdf
- Quit Smoking Action Plan(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=117062
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Smoking Cessation and Continued Risk in Cancer Patients (PDQ)(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/smokingcessation/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/cuidados-medicos-apoyo/fumar-riesgo-de-cancer/Patient/page2
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Smoking Cessation in Recovering Alcoholics(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/addictions/tobacco/269.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/addictions/tobacco/269.printerview.html
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Smoking: 'Why Do I Smoke?' Quiz(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/addictions/tobacco/296.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/addictions/tobacco/296.printerview.html
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Smoking: Do I Want to Quit?(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/addictions/tobacco/618.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/addictions/tobacco/618.printerview.html
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You Can Control Your Weight as You Quit Smoking(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/smoking.htm
- Health Consequences of Smoking on the Human Body(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/sgr_2004/sgranimation/html/home_effects.html
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Nicotine Addiction Test(National Cancer Institute, Tobacco Control Research Branch) - http://www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/nicotine_addiction.asp
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Kick the Smoking Habit(Healthy Roads Media) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/english/Files/flv/engsmok.htm
- Stop Smoking Before Surgery(American Society of Anesthesiologists) - Requires media player - http://www.asahq.org/patientEducation/vnr8.htm
- Coverage for Tobacco Use Cessation Treatments(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/cessation/coverage/page1.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Smoking(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Smoking%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Smoking Cessation(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Smoking+Cessation%22
- Craving a Smoke? Take a Walk Instead(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Craving_a_Smoke_Talk_a_Walk.asp
- Personal Touch Helps Survivors Quit Smoking(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Personal_Touch_Helps_Survivors_Quit_Smoking.asp
- Spit Tobacco No Substitute for Quitting Smoking(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Spit_Tobacco_No_Substitute_for_Quitting_Smoking.asp
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Standard Treatments Help Depressed Smokers Quit(National Institute on Drug Abuse) - http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol21N3/standard.html
- Study Better Defines Risks of Smoking, Benefits of Quitting for Women(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Study_Better_Defines_Risks_of_Smoking_Benefits_of_Quitting_for_Women.asp
- Your Social Network Often Determines Your Smoking Status(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Your_Social_Network_Often_Determines_Your_Smoking_Status.asp
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Smokers: the formers versus the nevers. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18777656&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: A randomized trial of nicotine nasal spray in adolescent smokers. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18762494&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Smoking cessation therapy with varenicline. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18686733&tool=MedlinePlus
- Smoking Cessation -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=tobacco+use+cessation[majr]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
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Call NCI's Smoking Quitline(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancer_information/doc.aspx?viewid=b63233d1-52e3-4d78-96e4-75f1c9c6ed4e
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Talk to an Expert(National Cancer Institute, Tobacco Control Research Branch) - http://www.smokefree.gov/talk.html
- American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/
- American Lung Association - http://www.lungusa.org/
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National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
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National Institute on Drug Abuse - http://www.nida.nih.gov/
- State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI)(American Lung Association) - http://slati.lungusa.org/
- Cigarette Smoking among Adults — United States, 2006(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5644a2.htm
- Number of Adults 18 Years and Older Who Were Current, Former or Never Smokers(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/tables/adult/table_3.htm
- State-Specific Prevalences of Cigarette Smoking and Quitting among Adults — United States, 2004(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5444a3.htm
- I Quit: What to Do When You're Sick of Smoking, Chewing, or Dipping(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/iquit/iquit.htm
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Smoking: Don't Let It Steer You Wrong(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/addictions/tobacco/274.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/addictions/tobacco/274.printerview.html
- Smoking and Pregnancy(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=33573
- Why It's Important for Women to Quit(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/quitsmoking/important/
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Smoking: It's Never Too Late to Stop(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/smoking.asp
- Smoking - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/smoking.html
- Substance Abuse Problems - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/substanceabuseproblems.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Smoking Cessation is the National Institute on Drug Abuse - http://www.nida.nih.gov/
Smoking Cessation - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/smokingcessation.html