Quit Smoking

A person breaking a cigarette in half

Quitting smoking now improves your health and reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease and other smoking-related illnesses. Use the information and resources below to educate yourself on strategies to help you quit.

Real Stories

Read the stories of others and learn about their struggles with smoking and how they were inspired to quit.

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Diseases and Conditions Linked to Smoking

Learn how smoking affects these illnesses and conditions.

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Ready to Quit Smoking? You Can Do It — and NOW is the Time

No matter how old you are or how long you’ve smoked, quitting now can help you live longer and be healthier. People who stop smoking before age 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared with those who keep smoking. (But quitting at ANY age is a great thing, so if you’re older than 50, don’t think it’s too late. It’s never too late to quit smoking and improve your health, says the American Cancer Society.) Check out these health benefits:

  • Ex-smokers enjoy a higher quality of life, with fewer illnesses such as colds and the flu, lower rates of bronchitis and pneumonia, and an overall healthier feeling compared with those who still smoke.
  • Ex-smokers live longer than people who keep smoking.
  • Quitting smoking lowers the risk of lung cancer, other cancers, heart attack, stroke and chronic lung disease.
  • The health benefits of quitting smoking are far greater than any risks from the small weight gain (usually less than 10 pounds) or any emotional or psychological problems that may follow quitting.
  • Coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath begin to improve.
  • Those who quit smoking enjoy better breath, healthier teeth and a reduced chance of developing cancers of the mouth and throat.
  • Twenty minutes after quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop. Twelve hours after quitting, the carbon-monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. Two weeks to three months after quitting, your circulation improves.

Make the commitment to quit. Now. You’ll soon be enjoying all the wonderful benefits of being a non-smoker. Happy new year!

Source: American Cancer Society; American Dental Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Surgeon General’s Report

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Resources to Help You Quit Smoking

It’s never too late to quit smoking. Quitting smoking now improves your health and reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses. There are many resources available to help you quit smoking, including quitlines, educational materials, Web sites, and support groups. You can also talk to your doctor about other strategies for quitting that may be right for you.

Quitlines

Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (en Español) if you want help quitting. This is a free telephone support service that can help people who want to stop smoking or using tobacco. Callers are routed to their state quitlines, which offer several types of quit information and services.

These may include:

  • Free support, advice, and counseling from experienced quitline coaches
  • A personalized quit plan
  • Practical information on how to quit, including ways to cope with nicotine withdrawal
  • The latest information about stop-smoking medications
  • Free or discounted medications (available for at least some callers in most states)
  • Referrals to other resources
  • Mailed self-help materials

Find out how much money quitting could save you with our Cigarette Cost Calculator.

Online Government Resources

Other Online Resources

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