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Respiratory Care Settings and Smoking Cessation										Related Pages
					Lungs
Smoking Causes Respiratory DiseasesDoctor using stethoscope on patient
Cigarette smoking has long been linked to adverse effects on the respiratory system, causing malignant and nonmalignant diseases, exacerbating chronic lung diseases and increasing the risk for respiratory infections.
Research shows that smoking causes:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), resulting in about 8 in 10 COPD-related deaths in the U.S.
Asthma exacerbation in adults
Increased risk of tuberculosis disease and mortality
Respiratory symptoms, including cough, wheeze, phlegm, and dyspnea
Acute respiratory illness, including pneumonia
Reduced lung function and impaired lung growth in childhood and adolescenceAdditionally, research suggests that smoking may cause idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, recurrent tuberculosis disease, asthma exacerbation in adolescents, and increased incidence of asthma in adolescents and adults.
Secondhand smoke exposure causes respiratory symptoms, impaired lung function, and lower-respiratory illnesses in children and may cause respiratory symptoms, COPD, and the incidence of adult-onset asthma.**Smoking cessation improves respiratory health. Healthcare professionals, particularly those in pulmonary care, should treat patients’ tobacco use and dependence.**

Smoking and Respiratory Disease – What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know[PDF - 351 KB]Smoking Causes Respiratory Diseases


Doctor using stethoscope on patient
Cigarette smoking has long been linked to adverse effects on the respiratory system, causing malignant and nonmalignant diseases, exacerbating chronic lung diseases and increasing the risk for respiratory infections.
Research shows that smoking causes:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), resulting in about 8 in 10 COPD-related deaths in the U.S.
Asthma exacerbation in adults
Increased risk of tuberculosis disease and mortality
Respiratory symptoms, including cough, wheeze, phlegm, and dyspnea
Acute respiratory illness, including pneumonia
Reduced lung function and impaired lung growth in childhood and adolescenceAdditionally, research suggests that smoking may cause idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, recurrent tuberculosis disease, asthma exacerbation in adolescents, and increased incidence of asthma in adolescents and adults.
Secondhand smoke exposure causes respiratory symptoms, impaired lung function, and lower-respiratory illnesses in children and may cause respiratory symptoms, COPD, and the incidence of adult-onset asthma.
Smoking and Respiratory Disease – What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know[PDF - 351 KB]Smoking Cessation Improves Lung HealthSmoking cessation is one of the most important actions people who smoke can take to improve their health and reduce their risk for COPD. This is true for all people who smoke, regardless of age or smoking duration and intensity. The health benefits also extend to patients already diagnosed with COPD.
The respiratory benefits of smoking cessation include:
Reduces the risk of developing COPD.
Among those with COPD, slows the progression of COPD and reduces the loss of lung function over time.
Reduces risk of cancers in the respiratory system.
Reduces respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, sputum production, wheezing).
Reduces respiratory infections (e.g., bronchitis, pneumonia).
Research suggests cessation may improve lung function, reduce symptoms, and improve treatment outcomes among persons with asthma.Clinical Interventions to Treat Tobacco Use and Dependence Among AdultsThe Entire Clinical Care Team Can HelpResources for Respiratory Care TeamsCDC resources available at cdc.gov/TobaccoHCP:
You Can Help Your Patients Quit Tobacco Use [PDF – 773 KB]
A Practical Guide to Help Your Patients Quit Using Tobacco [PDF – 646 KB]
Million Hearts Resources:
Tobacco Treatment Protocol [PDF – 634 KB]
Action Steps for Clinicians [PDF – 339 KB]
Tobacco Cessation Change Package [PDF – 1.3 MB]
Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, Clinical Practice Guideline: 2008 Update
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Tobacco Smoking Cessation in Adults, Including Pregnant Women: Behavioral and Pharmacotherapy InterventionsTop of Page
							
					
						Page last reviewed:  June 10, 2021					Content source: 	Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion homeHomeOffice on Smoking and Health (OSH)plus iconOSH Partners with StatesFunding Opportunity AnnouncementsInteragency Committee on Smoking and Healthplus iconMembership RosterNewsroomStay ConnectedOrganizationSmoking & Tobacco Use FeaturesQuit Smokingplus iconHow to Quitplus iconBenefits of QuittingBasic Informationplus iconHealth Effectsplus iconCancerHeart Disease and StrokeChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)Smoking During PregnancyEquality in Smoking & Disease: Nobody Wins!Electronic Cigarettesplus iconAbout Electronic Cigarettes (E-Cigarettes)Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young AdultsEmpower Vape-Free Youth CampaignMenthol Tobacco Productsplus iconState Menthol Fact SheetsMenthol Tobacco Products are a Public Health ProblemMenthol Smoking and Related Health DisparitiesAddressing Menthol Tobacco ProductsHeated Tobacco ProductsYouth Tobacco PreventionCommercial Tobacco and Health Equityplus iconBlack and African American Peopleplus iconHealth BurdenUnfair and Unjust Practices and ConditionsSecondhand SmokeQuitting TobaccoAmerican Indian and Alaska Native Peopleplus iconHealth BurdenUnfair and Unjust Practices and ConditionsSecondhand SmokeQuitting TobaccoAsian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Peopleplus iconHealth BurdenUnfair and Unjust Practices and ConditionsQuitting TobaccoHispanic and Latino Peopleplus iconHealth BurdenUnfair and Unjust Practices and ConditionsSecondhand SmokeQuitting TobaccoLGBTQ+ Peopleplus iconHealth BurdenUnfair and Unjust Practices and ConditionsQuitting TobaccoPeople Across Geographic Regionsplus iconHealth BurdenUnfair and Unjust Practices and ConditionsSecondhand SmokeQuitting TobaccoPeople with Behavioral Health Conditionsplus iconHealth BurdenUnfair and Unjust Practices and ConditionsCommercial Tobacco Product Use and Behavioral Health Conditions can Affect Each OtherQuitting TobaccoPeople with Low Socioeconomic Statusplus iconHealth BurdenUnfair and Unjust Practices and ConditionsSecondhand SmokeQuitting TobaccoSecondhand Smokeplus iconGeneral InformationTrends and DisparitiesHealth ProblemsSecondhand Smoke in the CommunitySecondhand Smoke in the HomeSmokefree PoliciesResourcesGoing Smokefree Mattersplus iconBars and RestaurantsCasinosIn Your HomeMultiunit HousingSurgeon General's Reports on Smoking and Tobacco Useplus icon2020 SGR—Smoking Cessation2016 SGR—E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young AdultsHistorical ReportsA Brief HistoryArchiveData and Statisticsplus iconFast Facts and Fact Sheetsplus icon**Smoking and Cigarettes**Diseases and DeathHealth Effects of Cigarette SmokingTobacco-Related MortalityCigarette Smoking in the U.S.Adult DataCessationCost and ExpendituresEconomics**Smokeless Tobacco**Health EffectsProducts and MarketingSmokeless Tobacco Product Use in the United States**Other Tobacco Products**CigarsHookahsLow Yield Cigarettes**Secondhand Smoke****Youth Tobacco Use**Youth DataSmoking in the MoviesTrends in Tobacco Use Among Youth**Tobacco Industry**Tobacco Brand PreferencesIndustry MarketingSurveysplus iconNational Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS)Alaska Native Adult Tobacco Survey Guidance ManualAmerican Indian Adult Tobacco SurveyScientific Evidence BriefsSTATE SystemMorbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR)Vital SignsPatient Careplus iconPatient Care Settings and Smoking Cessationplus iconCardiovascular Care SettingsRespiratory Care SettingsCancer Care SettingsMaternal and Infant Care SettingsClinical Interventions to Treat Tobacco Use and Dependence Among AdultsClinical Cessation ToolsPatient Cessation MaterialsQuitlines and Other Cessation Support ResourcesClinical Education and TrainingE-Cigarettes and Patient CareState and Community Workplus iconTobacco Control Programsplus iconCessation Materials for Tobacco Control ProgramsNetworking2Save: Co-op AgreementGuidelines and ResourcesProgram FundingEvidence Based Guides for StatesState Fact SheetsTobacco Ingredient and Nicotine ReportingTobacco Counter-Marketing CampaignGlobal Tobacco Controlplus iconAbout Global Tobacco Surveillance System (GTSS)GTSSDataThe Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) AtlasHelp & Glossaryplus iconGlossaryData and DocumentationUsing the GTSSData HomepageUsing the GTSSData Explorer PageContact UsMultimedia & Toolsplus iconMedia Campaign Resource Center (MCRC)Publication Catalog To receive email updates about Smoking & Tobacco Use, enter your email address: Email Address			What's this				Submit
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