Smoking Cessation Classes

Quit, Don’t Switch
Some smokers may think that e-cigarettes will help them quit but substituting one addiction for another is not quitting. E-cigarettes still produce a number of dangerous chemicals including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. The inhalation of harmful chemicals can cause irreversible lung damage, lung diseases, and even death.

Talk to your healthcare provider about a plan to quit smoking. The combination of medication and counseling results in the highest rates of success in quitting smoking for good. Effective medications include nicotine gum, patches, nasal spray, inhaler and lozenges.

Reasons to Quit
Every smoker has his or her own personal motivation for quitting. Some common reasons for quitting include your health and quality of life, the health of those around you, high costs, and the hassle.

Benefits of Quitting
As soon as you quit, your body begins to repair the damage caused by smoking.

• 20 minutes after quitting, your heart rate will drop to a normal level.
• 12–24 hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal, and your risk of heart attack is significantly reduced.
• 2 weeks–3 months after quitting, your risk of having a heart attack begins to drop, and your lung function starts improving.
• 1–9 months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
• 1 year after quitting, your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
• 5–15 years after quitting, your risk of having a stroke is reduced to that of a nonsmoker’s, and your risk of getting mouth, throat, or esophagus cancer is half that of a smoker’s.
• 10 years after quitting, your risk of dying from lung cancer or getting bladder cancer is about half that of a smoker’s, and your risk of getting cervical, larynx, kidney or pancreas cancer decreases.
• 15 years after quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease is the same as that of a nonsmoker.

How to Quit
Don’t know where to begin? We have resources to help you get ready and then take the big step of quitting for good. Get started now!

What to Expect
Quitting smoking is a journey, not a single event. See what to expect when quitting, challenges you should prepare for and get answers to common questions about quitting smoking.

Talking to Your Doctor
Your doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, dentist or other healthcare provider are key resources for quitting. They can help you discover what medication will work best for you and put you in contact with local resources and your local quitline. Healthcare providers can help with information and support you need to live smokefree. They may help you craft your own quit plan, offer methods to prevent slip-ups, or walk through the pros and cons of nixing nicotine. Doctors or healthcare providers often stick with you throughout your quit journey by scheduling follow up visits or phone calls. Remember, healthcare professionals are not there to judge—they’re there to help you in any way you need to achieve a smokefree life.