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Penn Medicine is proud to join the American Cancer Society in promoting the Great American Smokeout as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Did you know that tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States? In fact, tobacco use is responsible for nearly one in five deaths in this country.

Why Quit?

Research shows that if you smoke and pick a quit date in the next 30 days and stick to it, you’ll be more likely to quit for good. So pick a quit date, and as you mark it on your calendar, consider these benefits of quitting: 

• 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
• 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves, and your lung function increases.
• 1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures in the lungs) regain normal function, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
• 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
• 10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker. The risks of cancer of the larynx and pancreas decrease.
• 15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker’s.
• 5 years after quitting: Risks of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder are cut in half. Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a nonsmoker. Stroke risk can fall to that of a nonsmoker after 2 to 5 years.

How to Quit

If you are looking for ways to quit smoking or tobacco use, the Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Treatment at Penn Medicine can help you quit for good.

If you want to try to quit smoking on your own, here are some things you can do to take the first steps.*

• Set a Quit Date: Whether it is today, on National Smokeout Day, or another day, setting a quit date can help you focus your efforts and plan accordingly.
• Tell People: Tell your friends and family members you are quitting smoking on that date. Let them help you and support you along the way and on that day.
• Anticipate the challenges. Identify what they are and plan on how you will cope with them.
• Remove cigarettes and all tobacco products from your home, work and car.
• Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit smoking.

Penn's Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Program provides state-of-the-art and individualized treatment to help smokers quit safely and comfortably. Specialists at the center offer treatment that is respectful and supportive, without guilt or pressure.

VIDEO: Watch Frank Leone, MD, MS, director of the Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Treatment Program at Penn talk about how Penn can help you quit smoking. 



*These steps were taken from the website, Smokefree.gov.