Smoking causes serious complications for your lungs, which is why quitting is so important. Even after you’ve quit, you may still have trouble breathing. You may have a hard time starting your day as well.
Smoking also lowers your chances of getting lung cancer and heart disease.
You can’t reverse these health conditions, but you can keep them in check.
You can also help slow the effects of smoking by quitting.
Your doctor can help you find ways to help quit smoking. These may include counseling, medication, or a combination of the two.
Quitting smoking with the help of your doctor is the best way to avoid serious health consequences.
How Long Should You Wait to Stop Smoking?
The recommended waiting time for quitting depends on your age, the amount of cigarette smoking you do, and other risk factors.
It’s best to wait at least a month before you try to quit. A longer period of time can help you learn how to quit smoking.
The American Lung Association (ALA) recommends waiting until you’re ready to quit for at least a year.
ALA also recommends that you wait at least a year before you try to quit again.
You can help yourself quit smoking in a few different ways. One way to help yourself is to make it a regular habit.
If you smoke, you can help yourself quit by:
- Quitting right when you wake up.
- Staying away from all tobacco products for at least an hour before bedtime.
- Quitting in groups.
- Quitting alone.
- Quitting after a meal.
How Long Does It Take to Quit Smoking?
You may be able to quit smoking in as little as a few days. If you haven’t smoked in a while, you may need to try several times before you’re able to stop for good.
But it’s important to remember that each time you try to quit, you’ll be more likely to succeed.
If you’ve tried and failed to quit in the past, try again.
ALA recommends that you try to quit smoking for at least a year before you attempt to quit again.
How to Help Quit Smoking Right Now?
If you want to quit, but you’re not sure how to do it, you can help yourself by:
- Making a plan.
- Staying away from all tobacco products, even if you’ve only smoked a pack or two.
- Quitting right away.
- Quitting with a friend or family member.
- Quitting when you have a craving.
- Quitting when you’re tired.
What If You Can’t Quit Smoking?
If you’ve tried quitting several times and it’s not working, you may not be able to quit smoking.
You may still be able to quit if you’ve tried smoking a pack or so a day for a few weeks.
But you may need to try again.
If you’ve failed to quit at least a year before, you may need to try again.
ALA recommends that you try to quit for at least one year before you try again.
How Can I Help You Quit Smoking?
If you want to quit, the ALA recommends that you:
- Talk to your doctor about your options.
- Talk to your friends and family about quitting.
- Know your triggers.
- Know your cravings.
- Make a plan for quitting.
- Find ways to help yourself quit.
- Find support groups.
- Do breathing exercises.
- Keep a journal.
How Can You Help Your Loved One Quit Smoking?
If you’re worried that your loved one may be trying to quit but isn’t succeeding, consider these tips for helping them quit smoking:
- Ask them what they’re doing to help themselves stop smoking.
- Ask them to share their successes and failures.
- Help them identify their triggers.
- Help them identify their cravings.
- Help them find ways to help themselves quit.
What Are The Risks of Smoking While Quitting?
Smoking is bad for your health. It can cause serious health problems over time.
Smoking may increase your chances of:
- Lung cancer.
- Heart disease.
- Stroke.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Chronic bronchitis.
- Emphysema.
- Smoking can also affect your ability to breathe.
Smoking also increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Smoking can increase the risk of several types of cancer.
Smoking raises your risk of death from any cause.
If you have a loved one who’s interested in quitting smoking, it’s best to do what you can to help them quit.
The more you can do to help them succeed, the better.
Prevention Is Key
You can help yourself quit smoking by:
You can help your loved one quit smoking by:
If you’re interested in quitting smoking, the best thing you can do is to quit.
Quitting means you’ve made a decision to stop something that’s not working. It takes time and determination.
But quitting can be easier than you think.
You can help your loved one quit by:
If you’re interested in helping your loved one quit smoking, you can help yourself quit smoking by:
ALA has a number of resources to help you quit.
You can get the help you need to quit smoking online.
You can also call the National Cancer Institute at 18004A-CANCER (18004224456).
ALA can help you quit smoking by:
If you’re interested in quitting smoking, you’ll want to set a quit date.
- The American Lung Association offers quit tips, including how to quit smoking for good.
- The American Cancer Society offers resources about quitting smoking, including a quit plan to help you quit.
Talk to your doctor if you’re interested in quitting smoking.
You can contact your local Tobacco Quit Line at 1800QUIT-NOW (2333) for additional advice and support.
The American Lung Association is not affiliated with Nicotine Anonymous, Inc. or the products of Nicorette, Inc. or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates.
For more information about this information, see the “Legal Conditions and Terms of Use” section of the NCA website.
The Bottom Line
If you want to quit smoking, you can help yourself quit. You can also help your loved ones who smoke by letting them know that you want to quit.
You can do this by:
- Quitting when you wake up.
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