For many years, smoking was promoted as healthy or glamorous. Today, we understand that there are zero good reasons to smoke. Smoking ages us. It puts us (and those around us) at risk for disease. Smoking is increasingly expensive. There is a social stigma attached to smoking that did not previously exist. Despite the warnings and the link between smoking and the increased risk for 12 types of cancer as well as heart and lung diseases, many choose to begin or maintain the habit.

Long term smokers sometimes ask themselves “Why quit now?” Isn’t the damage already done?” Although that mindset is a great way to avoid the difficult task of breaking a smoking habit, it is not valid. It is never too late to appreciate the benefits of cessation, no matter how long someone has smoked.

At Quit With WakeMed, we understand that smoking cessation is a marathon, not a sprint. Tobacco addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder that may require repeated intervention. Patients often attempt cessation several times before they succeed. Cessation efforts with comprehensive support can make all the difference.

• Self-guided quit attempts succeed about 3.5% of the time.
• Provider-directed — 10%
• Quitline-assisted — 11%
• Multidisciplinary, specialized treatment succeeds 30-40% of the time.

5 Benefits of Smoking Cessation

#1 – You see immediate improvements in your health.

According to the Surgeon General, quitting smoking is the single most important step a smoker can take to improve the length and quality of his/her life. Need further proof? Consider this timeline of benefits, courtesy of the American Lung Association and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

20 Minutes After Quitting:

• Your heart rate drops to a normal level.

12 to 24 Hours After Quitting:

• The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• The risk of heart attack is significantly reduced

2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting:

• Your risk of having a heart attack begins to drop.
• Your lung function begins to improve.

1 to 9 Months After Quitting:

• Your 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 to 15 Years After Quitting:

• Your risk of having a stroke is reduced to that of a nonsmoker’s.
• Your risk of getting cancer of the mouth, throat, or esophagus is half that of a smoker’s.

10 Years After Quitting:

• Your risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a smoker’s.
• Your risk of getting bladder cancer is half that of a smoker’s.
• Your risk of getting cervical cancer or cancer of the larynx, kidney or pancreas decreases.

15 Years After Quitting:

• Your risk of coronary heart disease is the same as that of a nonsmoker.

For example, asthma is a disease of inflammation, and removing cigarette smoke and chemicals from the lungs immediately removes a trigger for inflammation, improving cough, phlegm and wheezing.

#2 – You save money.

Smoking isn’t cheap. Depending on where you live, a pack of cigarettes can cost upwards of $10 with prices continuing to rise each day. Even if you only spend $5 on a pack of cigarettes, smoking one pack of cigarettes per day equates to more than $1,800 per year.

Further, as smoking starts to affect health, money will be spent on visits with healthcare professionals, inhalers, heart medications, etc. Missed time at work secondary to illness will also be costly.

#3 –Your lifestyle is improved.

Today, restaurants and businesses are attuned to the negative health effects that smoking has on others.  Many cities within the United States have passed laws that ban smoking in public places, making it a hassle for smokers to light up. Is it worth the inconvenience and price (missed time with friends) to find a spot for lighting up a cigarette?

#4 – You protect your loved ones.

Cigarette smoke is harmful to everyone who gets a whiff — not just the person who smokes. In fact, studies show that secondhand smoke is just as dangerous and can make you sick. Help those you care about and love breathe easier when you quit smoking. Not only will you be healthier, you will protect your friends and family from infections, asthma attacks, heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.

#5 – Long term benefits are realized.

Smoking leads to disease, but if a smoker has developed disease, that doesn’t mean that it is too late to quit. Cessation is about prevention but is also critical in the treatment for many conditions. The risk of developing cancers is reduced by smoking cessation, when compared to ongoing tobacco use. As mentioned earlier, at 5-10 years, the risk of laryngeal, oral and pharyngeal cancers drop. At 10 years, the risk for esophageal, bladder and kidney cancers fall. At 10-15 years the risk of lung cancer is cut in half. For patients with cancer, smoking cessation improves outcomes. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the US. The risk of coronary artery disease falls sharply 1-2 years after cessation and continues to decline over the long term. For patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), cessation reduces the risk for new and recurrent disease. The risk of disease and death from stroke also falls and can reach the level of those who have never smoked. Smoking cessation reduces the risk for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and for those with COPD, it slows the progressive loss of lung function over time.

Support for Smoking Cessation

If you’re trying to help someone quit smoking for good, consider this list of Do’s and Don’ts from the American Cancer Society.

If you’re a smoker, or trying to quit any form of tobacco, let our tobacco cessation program, Quit With WakeMed, help. We are a team of experienced Advanced Practice Providers and Behavioral Health Specialists with extensive training in tobacco cessation.

Visits are virtual, via MyChart, and convenient. Visits are billed to your insurance and out-of-pocket cost is typically equal to your usual copay. Our mission is to improve community health, and studies show that cessation programs like ours make the likelihood of success 10X greater. Call 919-350-QUIT (7848).