Smoking and Vaping Cessation

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Based on 2018 data, about 34 million US adults smoke cigarettes. Every day, about 1,600 young people under age 18 years smoke their first cigarette, and nearly 200 begin smoking cigarettes daily. Over 16 million people live with at least one disease caused by smoking, and 58 million nonsmoking Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke. – CDC

Benefits of Quitting:The sooner you quit, the sooner your body can begin to heal. - CDC

Benefits of Quitting Timeline

After Quitting Time	Benefits of the body
20 minutes	Your heart rate drops.
12 hours	Carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
2 weeks to 3 months	Your heart attack risk begins drop. Your lung function begins to improve normal.
1 to 9 months	Your coughing and shortness of breath decreases.
1 year	Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
2 to 5 years	Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker's 2-5 years after quitting. Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder is halved within 5 years.
10 years	Your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker's. your risk of cancers of the kidney and pancreas decreases.
15 years	Your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker's.

Vaping/e-cigarette is not a healthier, safer or better alternative to smoking. - AHA

Vaping Quiz:

Can vaping negatively affect your health?

A.Yes B. No

What are some reasons people start vaping?

      A. Friends are doing it
      B. Flavors
      C. Stress
      D. All of the above

3. Is it hard to quit vaping?

A. Yes B. No

4. What is true about e-cigarettes? It is:

      A. An electronic nicotine delivery device
      B. Advertised and targeted to youth
      C. A fire hazard
      D. All of the above

5. What are some withdrawal symptoms of vaping?

      A. Difficulty sleeping
      B. Excessive thirst
      C. Difficulty concentrating
      D. All of the above

Please click here to get the answers and more questions from Essential Health.

10 Tips to Quit Smoking/Vaping: California Smorkers' Helpline

Find a reason to quit
Make a plan
List your triggers
Learn how to handle cravings
Get support
Take control of your environment
Set a quit day
Quit on a quit day
Think positively
Keep trying

Other helpful tip: Research shows that a single call increases the chance of quitting. Call 1-800-NO-BUTTS (1-800-66-28887) or 1-844-8-NO-VAPE (1-844-8-66-8273). Or you can text "No Smokes" or "No Vapes" to 66819.

Helpful Resources:

California Smorkers' Helpline Home or directly visit Quit Smoking/Quit Vaping

Smokefree.gov Home

CDC Smoking and Tobacco Use

American Heart Association Vaping/Quit Smoking/Tobacco

Know The Risks E-Cigarettes and Young People - Office of the Surgeon General (OSG)