Help Quitting SmokingQuitting smoking has never been easy, but it’s getting easier. There are more resources available than ever before, from newly-available products to tame nicotine cravings to effective coaching techniques to help you quit for good. And as the evidence for the health benefits of quitting piles up, the medical community is working to make these resources accessible to more people and more effective in aiding quitting. In Pittsburgh and the surrounding regions, UPMC Cancer Centers is your partner in quitting tobacco.
There are more reasons to quit smoking every day. Cigarettes are expensive, and are getting more so. The Pennsylvania and Ohio smoking bans make it easier to avoid cigarette smoke in restaurants and bars. And, of course, research continues to find more evidence of how even occasional tobacco exposure and use raises your risk of emphysema, heart disease, and cancer (among many other diseases).
The good news is that when you quit, your body starts to undo the damage surprisingly quickly. Your blood pressure, oxygen levels and risk of heart attack will improve within a day of your quitting. In a month, you should see improved lung function, better circulation, and have more energy. And, in 15 years, your risk of death is nearly the same as if you had never smoked. Not only will you live longer without tobacco, you’ll live better as well!
Available resources can depend on what health insurance you have, and where you live. Your doctor will be able to let you know what your choices are, and can tell you about prescription drugs that might be of use to you. Even without a prescription, there are a number of over-the-counter aids that have been shown to be helpful in quitting smoking.
Of course, beating the physical effects of nicotine is only part of the battle - experts recommend that you plan ahead for quitting. Once you’ve quit, there are a number of tricks and techniques that can keep you from falling back into old habits, beat stress and overcome the urge to start again.
Here are some links to help you plan for a tobacco-free life, and kick the habit for good:
Education Materials — Patient education materials to help you determine why you want to quit, walk you through quitting, and exercises to fight temptation
Smoking Cessation — UPMC webpages to explain some of the dangers of tobacco, and steer you towards a tobacco-free future
Ready To Quit Tobacco? — a guide to the services available to UPMC Health Plan members, including information on obtaining medications to help you quit smoking, and an online, interactive cessation class, free to UPMC Health Plan members
Smoking cessation program calendar – Free programs in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh
Please note: calendar is provided by TFA; UPMC Cancer Centers has not verified the listings provided. Please confirm the classes in advance of attendance.
SmokeFree.gov — a resource guide provided by the National Cancer Institute with a guide to quitting, and phone / web based counseling
How to Quit — Quitting resources from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Smoking and Cancer Topics at the National Cancer Institute — many links about new cessation drugs, research findings and self-help guides in English and Spanish.