How to Quit Smoking: Learn About Proven Methods

Smoking raises cancer risk, especially lung cancer, leading cancer death; quitting today reduces that risk. Even after quitting, risk remains higher than never-smokers; discuss lung cancer screening with your doctor.

Explore a chronic lung disease group including emphysema and bronchitis, linked to smoking and asthma. Learn symptoms like shortness of breath and coughing, and how quitting smoking aids management.

Discover how smoking damages the heart and blood vessels, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis, along with conditions like peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Explore smoking’s health risks, from reproductive effects and erectile dysfunction to cataracts, AMD, and oral health, and its impact on pregnancy outcomes, infant health, inflammation, and immune function.

Explore what lies inside a cigarette, from the tobacco blend and menthol additives to thousands of chemicals, hundreds toxic, and about 70 known cancer causing substances.

Examine how cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless products carry toxins and cancer risks, with inhalation patterns shaping health outcomes; there is no safe tobacco product.

Explore how nicotine affects the brain, how the reward pathway and nicotine receptors drive addiction, and common withdrawal symptoms and quitting options.

Learn that secondhand smoke from burning tobacco contains toxic chemicals and cancer-causing substances, with no safe exposure, harming infants, children, and heart and lung health.

Quitting smoking lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer, and can add up to ten years to life expectancy.

Explore nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), its five types, safety precautions, and how professional dosing paired with counseling reduces withdrawal and cravings for heavier smokers.

Bupropion and varenicline are FDA-approved nicotine-free smoking cessation medications prescribed for 12 weeks. They are prescription medicines not suitable for everyone, best with counseling from your healthcare provider.

Learn how cognitive behavioral therapy aids smoking cessation by challenging negative thoughts, with short-term, action-oriented sessions, and how CBT plus medication improves success.

Learn how acceptance and commitment therapy helps quit smoking by accepting cravings and committing to values, with comparisons to CBT and guidance on choosing a therapist and delivery options.

Practice mindfulness to manage nicotine cravings and stress. Develop a daily routine of mindfulness exercises or meditation and explore options like teachers, apps, books, or MBCT.

Discover quitlines, state-level smoking cessation counseling by phone that is free and may include nicotine patches. Learn to contact national lines, available languages, and confidential counseling services plus cessation resources.

Discover text messaging programs for quitting smoking, including the national texting portal and smoke free text, with sign-up steps and age and language options.

Explore two free, evidence-based smoking cessation apps, Quit Guide and Quick Start, that track cravings, moods, triggers, and milestones, with journaling or personalized quit kits.

Discover resources for quitting, including Freedom from Smoking Plus online six-week program, printed workbook, group programs, state quitlines, National Cancer Institute help, and insurance coverage guidance.