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Questions and Answers About Smoking Cessation

 

 

1. How important is it to stop smoking? 

It is very important. Tobacco use remains the single most preventable cause of death in 

the United States. Cigarette smoking accounts for nearly one-third of all cancer deaths in 

this country each year. 

Smoking is the most common risk factor for the development of lung cancer, which is the 

leading cause of cancer death. It is also associated with many other types of cancer, 

including cancers of the esophagus, larynx, kidney, pancreas, and cervix. Smoking also 

increases the risk of other health problems, such as chronic lung disease and heart 

disease. Smoking during pregnancy can have adverse effects on the unborn child, such as 

premature delivery and low birth weight. 

 

2. What are the immediate benefits of stopping smoking?

The health benefits of smoking cessation (quitting) are immediate and substantial. 

Almost immediately, a person’s circulation begins to improve and the level of carbon 

monoxide in the blood begins to decline. (Carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas 

found in cigarette smoke, reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.) A person’s pulse 

rate and blood pressure, which may be abnormally high while smoking, begin to return to 

normal. Within a few days of quitting, a person’s sense of taste and smell return, and 

breathing becomes increasingly easier. 

3. What are the long-term benefits of stopping smoking?

People who quit smoking live longer than those who continue to smoke. After 10 to 

15 years, a previous tobacco user’s risk of premature death approaches that of a person 

who has never smoked. About 10 years after quitting, an ex-smoker’s risk of dying from 

lung cancer is 30 percent to 50 percent less than the risk for those who continue to smoke. 

Women who stop smoking before becoming pregnant or who quit in the first 3 months of 

pregnancy can reverse the risk of low birth weight for the baby and reduce other 

pregnancy-associated risks. Quitting also reduces the risk of other smoking-related 

diseases, including heart disease and chronic lung disease.
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There are also many benefits to smoking cessation for people who are sick or who have 

already developed cancer. Smoking cessation reduces the risk for developing infections, 

such as pneumonia, which often causes death in patients with other existing diseases. 

4. Does cancer risk change after quitting smoking?

 

Quitting smoking reduces the risk for developing cancer, and this benefit increases the 

longer a person remains “smoke free.” People who quit smoking reduce their risk of 

developing and dying from lung cancer. They also reduce their risk of other types of 

cancer (see question 1). The risk of premature death and the chance of developing cancer 

due to cigarettes depends on the number of years of smoking, the number of cigarettes 

smoked per day, the age at which smoking began, and the presence or absence of illness 

at the time of quitting. For people who have already developed cancer, quitting smoking 

reduces the risk of developing another primary cancer. 

 

5. At what age is smoking cessation the most beneficial? 

Smoking cessation benefits men and women at any age. Some older adults may not 

perceive the benefits of quitting smoking; however, smokers who quit before age 50 have 

half the risk of dying in the next 16 years compared with people who continue to smoke. 

By age 64, their overall chance of dying is similar to that of people the same age who 

have never smoked. Older adults who quit smoking also have a reduced risk of dying 

from coronary heart disease and lung cancer. Additional, immediate benefits (such as 

improved circulation, and increased energy and breathing capacity) are other good 

reasons for older adults to become smoke free. 

6. What are some of the difficulties associated with quitting smoking?

Quitting smoking may cause short-term after-effects, especially for those who have 

smoked a large number of cigarettes for a long period of time. People who quit smoking 

are likely to feel anxious, irritable, hungry, more tired, and have difficulty sleeping. They 

may also have difficulty concentrating. Many tobacco users gain weight when they quit, 

but usually less than 10 pounds. These changes do subside. People who kick the habit 

have the opportunity for a healthier future. 

7. How can health care providers help their patients to stop smoking?

Doctors and dentists can be good sources of information about the health risks of 

smoking and about quitting. They can tell their patients about the proper use and 

potential side effects of nicotine replacement therapy (see question 8), and help them find 

local smoking cessation programs. 

Doctors and dentists can also play an important role by asking patients about smoking at 

every office visit; advising patients to stop; assisting patients by setting a quit date, 

providing self-help materials, and suggesting nicotine replacement therapies (when 

appropriate); and arranging for followup visits. 
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8. What is nicotine replacement therapy?

Nicotine is the drug in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco that causes addiction. 

Nicotine replacement products deliver small, steady doses of nicotine into the body, 

which helps to relieve the withdrawal symptoms often felt by people trying to quit 

smoking. These products, which are available in four forms (patches, gum, nasal spray, 

and inhaler), appear to be equally effective. There is evidence that combining the 

nicotine patch with nicotine gum or nicotine nasal spray increases long-term quit rates 

compared with using a single type of nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine gum, in 

combination with nicotine patch therapy, may also reduce withdrawal symptoms better 

than either medication alone. Researchers recommend combining nicotine replacement 

therapy with advice or counseling from a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or other health 

provider. 

• The nicotine patch, which is available over the counter (without a prescription), 

supplies a steady amount of nicotine to the body through the skin. The nicotine 

patch is sold in varying strengths as an 8-week smoking cessation treatment. 

Nicotine doses are gradually lowered as the treatment progresses. The nicotine 

patch may not be a good choice for people with skin problems or allergies to 

adhesive tape. 

• Nicotine gum is available over the counter in 2- and 4-mg strengths. Chewing 

nicotine gum releases nicotine into the bloodstream through the lining of the 

mouth. Nicotine gum might not be appropriate for people with 

temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ) or for those with dentures or other dental 

work such as bridges. 

 

• Nicotine nasal spray was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) in 1996 for use by prescription only. The spray comes in a pump bottle 

containing nicotine that tobacco users can inhale when they have an urge to 

smoke. This product is not recommended for people with nasal or sinus 

conditions, allergies, or asthma, nor is it recommended for young tobacco users. 

• A nicotine inhaler, also available only by prescription, was approved by the FDA 

in 1997. This device delivers a vaporized form of nicotine to the mouth through a 

mouthpiece attached to a plastic cartridge. Even though it is called an inhaler, the 

device does not deliver nicotine to the lungs the way a cigarette does. Most of the 

nicotine only travels to the mouth and throat, where it is absorbed through the 

mucous membranes. Common side effects include throat and mouth irritation and 

coughing. Anyone with a bronchial problem such as asthma should use it with 

caution. 

9. Are there smoking cessation aids that do not contain nicotine?

Bupropion, a prescription antidepressant marketed as Zyban®, was approved by the FDA 

in 1997 to treat nicotine addiction. This drug can help to reduce nicotine withdrawal 
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symptoms and the urge to smoke. Some common side effects of bupropion are dry 

mouth, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, and skin rash. People should not use this drug if 

they have a seizure condition such as epilepsy or an eating disorder such as anorexia 

nervosa or bulimia, or if they are taking other medicines that contain bupropion 

hydrochloride. 

 

10. What if efforts to quit result in relapse?

Many smokers find it difficult to quit smoking, and it may take two or three attempts 

before they are finally able to quit. Although relapse rates are most common in the first 

few weeks or months after quitting, people who stop smoking for 3 months are often able 

to remain cigarette-free for the rest of their lives. 

11. What agencies and organizations are available to help people stop smoking?

 

A number of organizations provide information and materials about where to find help to 

stop smoking. State and local health agencies often have information about community 

smoking cessation programs. The local or county government section in the phone book 

(blue pages) has current phone numbers for health agencies. Information to help people 

quit smoking is also available through community hospitals, the yellow pages (under 

“drug abuse and addiction”), public libraries, health maintenance organizations, health 

fairs, bookstores, and community helplines. 

 Several national organizations provide information about how to quit smoking: 

 

 Government:

 

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) issues smoking cessation 

guidelines and other materials for physicians, health care professionals, and the general 

public. Printed copies are available by contacting: 

 Address: AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse 

 Post Office Box 8547 

 Silver Spring, MD 20907–8547 

Telephone: 1–800–358–9295 

 410–381–3150 

TTY: 1–888–586–6340 (for deaf and hard of hearing callers) 

Internet Web site: http://www.ahrq.gov/ 

E-mail: info@ahrq.gov 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports research to help prevent, detect, 

diagnose, and treat diseases and disabilities. Several of NIH’s Institutes provide 

information on the harmful effects of smoking. 

 

• The National Cancer Institute (NCI) conducts research on smoking cessation 

and promotes programs to reduce the rate of illness and death associated with 
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smoking. Several NCI publications on smoking-related topics are available from 

the NCI–supported Cancer Information Service (CIS). 

 

 Telephone: 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237) 

 TTY: 1–800–332–8615 (for deaf or hard of hearing callers) 

• The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) supports research on drug abuse 

and addiction, including the effects of cigarettes and other nicotine products. The 

NIDA Infofax service offers drug abuse and addiction information in English and 

Spanish. Users can receive fact sheets by fax or mail, or listen to recorded 

messages. NIDA Infofax is available at: 

Telephone: 1–888–NIH–NIDA (1–888–644–6432) 

TTY: 1–888–TTY–NIDA (1–888–889–6432) (for deaf or hard of 

hearing callers) 

Internet Web site: http://www.nida.nih.gov/ 

NIDA publications can be ordered from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol 

and Drug Information (NCADI) at: 

 

 Address: Center for Substance Abuse Prevention 

 National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information 

 Post Office Box 2345 

 Rockville, MD 20847–2345 

Telephone: 1–800–SAY–NO–TO (1–800–729–6686) 

 301–468–2600 

TTY: 1–800–487–4889 (for deaf or hard of hearing callers) 

Fax: 301–468–6433 

Internet Web site: http://www.health.org/ 

 E-mail: info@health.org 

 

The Office on Smoking and Health of the Centers for Disease Control and 

 Prevention distributes pamphlets, posters, scientific reports, and public service 

announcements about smoking, and maintains a bibliographic database of smoking and 

health-related materials. For more information, contact: 

 Address: Office on Smoking and Health 

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health 

Promotion 

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

 Mail Stop K–50 

 4770 Buford Highway, NE. 

 Atlanta, GA 30341–3724 

Telephone: 1–800–CDC–1311 (1–800–232–1311) 

 770–488–5705 
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Fax: 1–800–CDC–1311 (1–800–232–1311) 

FAX Information 

 Service: 770–332–2552 

 Internet Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco 

E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov

 

 The Office of the Surgeon General has information about techniques being used to treat 

tobacco use and dependence. The Office of the Surgeon General’s Web site has press 

releases, documents, and other information on tobacco use and cessation. 

 

 Address: The Surgeon General 

 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

 200 Independence Avenue, SW. 

 Washington, DC 20201 

 Internet Web site: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco 

Nonprofit: 

The American Cancer Society (ACS) offers materials on smoking cessation and other 

smoking and tobacco-related topics. The ACS also sponsors a smoking cessation clinic 

called FreshStart, which is available in most of the United States. 

For more information or the phone number for a local ACS office, contact ACS's 

National Home Office at: 

 

 Address: 1599 Clifton Road, NE. 

 Atlanta, GA 30329–4251 

Telephone: 1–800–ACS–2345 (1–800–227–2345) 

Internet Web site: http://www.cancer.org/ 

The American Heart Association (AHA) has information on local and 

community-related intervention programs in schools, workplaces, and health care sites. It 

also offers brochures on smoking cessation and the relationship between smoking and 

heart disease. For more information or the phone number for a local AHA chapter, 

contact AHA’s national office at: 

Address: National Center 

 7272 Greenville Avenue 

 Dallas, TX 75231 

Telephone: 1–800–AHA–USA1 (1–800–242–8721) 

Internet Web site: http://www.americanheart.org/ 

 The American Lung Association (ALA), an organization dedicated to fighting 

smoking-related diseases, provides information about local smoking cessation programs 

as well as its Freedom From Smoking clinics for individuals and organizations. For more 
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information or the phone number for a local ALA chapter, contact ALA's national 

headquarters at: 

Address: 1740 Broadway 

 New York, NY 10019–4274 

Telephone: 1–800–LUNG–USA (1–800–586–4872) 

 212–315–8700 

Internet Web site: http://www.lungusa.org/ 

 E-mail: info@lungusa.org 

# # # 

National Cancer Institute (NCI) Resources

Cancer Information Service (toll-free)

 Telephone: 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237) 

 TTY: 1–800–332–8615 

Online 

NCI’s Web site: http://www.cancer.gov 

LiveHelp, NCI’s live online assistance: 

https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/livehelp/welcome.asp

This fact sheet was reviewed on 12/12/00