Quitting tobacco may not be easy, but good resources, tips and a support network can help you take the smart steps to success. At TriHealth, we believe it’s never too late to quit smoking. From the moment you quit, you impact not only your physical health and mental well-being, but also the health of those around you.
The Quitter's Timeline
Effects of quitting may include:
- 20 minutes after your last cigarette: Heart rate drops
- 12 hours after quitting: Carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal
- 2 weeks after quitting: Heart attack risk begins to drop and lung function begins to improve
- 1 month after quitting: Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decreases
- 1 year after quitting: 50 percent less likely to have a heart attack caused by smoking
- 5 years after quitting: Risk of stroke is reduced
- 10 years after quitting: Risk from dying from lung cancer is about half
- 15 years after quitting: Risk of dying from a heart attack is the same as a person who has never smoked
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA
TriHealth has a team of tobacco treatment specialists who will work together with you to create a plan to quit – and stay smoke-free. From alternate therapies, like counseling or acupuncture, to education on nicotine replacement and prescription options, TriHealth can accommodate your individual needs to stop smoking today.
TriHealth offers FREE smoking cessation classes developed by the American Cancer Society. For more information or to register for the classes, please contact the TriHealth Smoking Cessation Program at 513 865 1145.
Community Resources
TriHealth Cancer Institute |
TriHealth Quit and Stay Quit |
TriHealth Integrative Medicine Acupuncture |
American Cancer Society |
American Lung Association |
American Heart Association |
National Smokers’ Quitline |