Smoking Cessation Health Center

When you're craving tobacco, it's hard to focus on quitting. Preparing yourself before you quit can help. Before you quit, get ready for a life without nicotine.

Think about your reasons for quitting

What would motivate you to quit smoking? Think about it. It's important to have your own reasons for quitting.

Use this self-test to help you discover what might motivate you to quit smoking(What is a PDF document?).

Staying healthy is a common reason to want to quit smoking. Or maybe you want to feel more in control of your life, instead of feeling controlled by tobacco. Teens may have other reasons to quit smoking.

Talk to your family and friends about quitting. Their support might help you decide to quit.

Quitting Smoking: Getting Support

Know the risks of smoking

What worries you about smoking? Make a list. Talk about it with your doctor. You may worry about:

• Health problems. Are you out of breath when you walk up the stairs? Are asthma symptoms getting worse? Are you coughing a lot?
• Long-term health risks. Are you afraid of having a heart attack or stroke? How about lung disease or cancer?
• Risks to others. Do you worry about family members getting lung cancer and heart disease? Are you afraid that your children might start smoking because you do? Are you concerned that your baby may die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if you smoke? Maybe your children have frequent ear infections or asthma.

Look forward to the rewards

What do you gain by quitting? You can:

• Feel better and be able to do more.
• Have a younger-looking and healthier body.
• Set a good example for others (especially children).
  • If you smoke, your child is more likely to smoke.
  • If your teen smokes, he or she may be more likely to quit smoking if you quit.
  • If your child never smokes during the teen years, he or she is less likely to start smoking in the future.
• Save money by getting rid of the cost of smoking. To find out how much you spend on cigarettes, see the Interactive Tool: How Much Is Smoking Costing You?
• Be in control of your habits.