Quit Today, Breathe Tomorrow: Why Kicking the Nicotine Habit Is a Lifesaver
Although cigarette smoking rates have been declining for decades, including in California, cigarette smoking remains the most preventable cause of serious illness and death. (Photo courtesy Kaiser Permanente)
If you’re a smoker who’ve contemplated quitting in hopes of greatly improving your health and preventing smoking-related diseases such as lung cancer and heart failure, then consider joining many others with similar minds during the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 20.
And although you’re likely to encounter bumps along the road to being tobacco-free, the health benefits are indisputable, according to health experts.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are and how long you’ve been smoking,” said Dr. Simran Bhandari, with Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center. “Kicking the nicotine habit will for sure improve several aspects of your health, and you will experience many more health benefits over the long term.”
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), although cigarette smoking rates have been declining for decades, including in California, cigarette smoking remains the most preventable cause of serious illness and death.
Consider the following statistics by the ACS:
Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke cause more than 480,000 deaths in the U.S. every year.
Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of at least 12 different cancers.
In the U.S., cigarette smoking causes about three of every 10 cancer deaths.
According to the ACS, some groups of people smoke more heavily or at higher rates. These populations tend to be those who face barriers to care and inequities in multiple areas of their lives, including:
People at lower socio-economic levels.
Those without college degrees.
African American/Black communities.
LGBTQ+ communities.
People serving in the military.
People with mental health conditions.
It’s never too late to quit smoking, however, according to Dr. Bhandari.
“Quitting smoking isn’t always easy and will take a high dose of commitment and dedication,” Dr. Bhandari said. “However, success improves with a good plan and support. In fact, getting help through counseling and medications doubles – or even triples – your chances of being smoke-free.”
The health benefits after you quit smoking are immediate and noticeable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In fact, the CDC notes that after you’ve smoked your last cigarette, your body begins a series of positive changes that continue for years. For example, the CDC states that within minutes of quitting smoking, the heart rate decreases, and within 24 hours the nicotine level in blood drops to zero.
Additionally, the risk of a heart attack drops sharply within one to two years after quitting smoking. After three to six years, the added risk of coronary heart disease drops by half, and after 10 years, the added risk of lung cancer also drops by half. After 15 years, the risk of coronary heart disease drops close to that of someone who has never smoked.
“And if you’re pregnant, quitting the tobacco habit as soon as you can will help protect you and your developing baby against health problems,” Dr. Bhandari said. “Among other things, this will prevent your developing baby from being born too small or too early, which can cause major health issues for your child.”
Kaiser Permanente offers important advice and information related to smoking and the benefits of quitting.