Stop Smoking | docfio

Quit Smoking

Tobacco is a killer.

Smoking is one of the most remarkable risk factor of top leading diseases such as Stroke, Heart disease, and lung cancer. A single major risk factor as smoking can put you a higher risk of getting one of those disease.

Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes many diseases, and reduces the health of smokers in general. Quitting smoking lowers your risk for smoking-related diseases and can add years to your life.

People who smoke or use other forms of tobacco are more likely to develop disease and die earlier than are people who don't use tobacco.

If you smoke, you may worry about what it's doing to your health.

You probably worry, too, about how hard it might be to stop smoking.

Nicotine is highly addictive, and to quit smoking — especially without help — can be difficult.

In fact, most people don't succeed the first time they try to quit.

It may take more than one try, but you can quit smoking.

Estimates show smoking increases the risk:
- For coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
- For stroke by 2 to 4 times
- Of men developing lung cancer by 25 times
- Of women developing lung cancer by 25.7 times

Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging your airways and the small air sacs (alveoli) found in your lungs.1,2. Lung diseases caused by smoking include Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body;

Bladder

Blood (acute myeloid leukemia)

Cervix

Colon and rectum (colorectal)

Esophagus

Kidney and ureter

Larynx

Liver

Oropharynx (includes parts of the throat, tongue, soft palate, and the tonsils)

Pancreas

Stomach

Trachea, bronchus, and lung

Smoking is a cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus and can make it harder to control. The risk of developing diabetes is 30–40% higher for active smokers than nonsmokers

Smoking can cause ectopic pregnancy in women, which is when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus. The egg can't survive and, if left untreated, can be life-threatening for the mother. Smoking also causes reduced fertility, meaning it makes it more difficult to get pregnant.

Blindness, Cataracts and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The effects of smoking not only impact mom's health, but also that of her baby. Smoking while pregnant can cause babies to be born prematurely and/or with a low birth-weight

Smoking contributes to periodontis—a gum infection that destroys the bone that supports the teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease more common in women that affects the joints in your hands and feet. Smoking is one of the causes, and is also associated with developing the disease at an earlier age.

Take that first step:

Decide to stop smoking.

Set a quit date.

And then take advantage of the multitude of resources available to help you successfully quit smoking

Quit Smoking Action Plan

Now that you've decided to stop smoking, it's time to map out your quit-smoking action plan.

One of the first steps of your plan should be "Get support."

Support can come from family, friends, your doctor, a counselor, a support group or a telephone quit line.

Support can also come from use of one or more of the medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for smoking cessation

Another key step in your quit-smoking action plan? Planning for challenges.

For example, make a list of high-risk places you'll want to avoid when you start your quit-smoking plan.

Think of other places to go where smoking isn't allowed, such as a shopping mall, a museum or movie theater.

Living smoke-free

What does living smoke-free mean? Living smoke-free is your opportunity to live a healthier and probably longer life.

Living smoke-free can also mean a better quality of life — with more stamina and a better ability to appreciate tastes and smells.

But living smoke-free doesn't mean living stress-free.

In fact, smokers often cite stress as a reason for relapsing.

Instead of using nicotine to help cope with stress, you'll need to learn new ways to cope. Be proactive.

You can find out more about stress management

For more help, talk with your doctor or a mental health provider.