Smoking


	Department of Internal Medicine
$SIU School of Medicine\$






	$\Research Activities$

SMOKING

Tobacco use is a chronic condition that often requires multiple attempts at stopping before being successful. Quitting is difficult but certainly achievable.
Stopping smoking reduces one’s risk for:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Numerous types of cancer
- Chronic lung disease
- Osteoporosis
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Pregnancy complications
Second-hand smoke can adversely affect the health of non-smokers.
Health benefits of smoking cessation occur in men and women of any age.
Smoking cessation before the age of 50 reduces the risk of dying in the next 15 years by 50%.
Risk of dying is substantially reduced even in smokers who quit after the age of 70.
Pharmaceutical [e.g., nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion (Zyban®), and varenicline (Chantix®)] and behavioral therapy have been shown to be effective in producing long-term or even permanent abstinence.
If you are a current smoker, there is every reason in the world to quit now. It is never too late! Ask your primary care provider for help and advice.

Additional information can be found at:

American Lung Association:
www.lungusa.org

Illinois Department of Public Health:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/TobaccoWebSite/quitsmoking.htm

Illinois Tobacco Quitline:
Call toll-free (866) QUIT-YES [(866) 784-8937]

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Page Last Updated September 12, 2008