Smoking - Easy to Read

Why is smoking bad for women?
I have been smoking a long time. Is it too late to quit?
How can I quit smoking?
What are nicotine "substitutes" and how do they work?
What can you tell me about the new pill that claims it can help me stop smoking?

Why is smoking bad for women?

Smoking causes many serious health problems in women. One of the worst problems smoking can cause is lung cancer. More women die every year from lung cancer than from any other kind of cancer. Smoking also means you have more chance of having heart disease, stroke, throat and cervical cancer, serious breathing problems (emphysema and chronic bronchitis), trouble getting pregnant, problems with the pregnancy, and problems with early menopause (the change of life) and osteoporosis (bone disease). Smoking during pregnancy can lead to babies born with mental retardation and a low birth weight. Smoking around children with asthma can make their asthma worse.

Other problems linked to smoking are: nicotine addiction (nicotine is a chemical that is habit forming); dental problems, feeling nervous and depressed, bad breath, wrinkled skin, and stained fingernails.

I have been smoking a long time. Is it too late to quit?

No. It is not too late to quit. Your lungs will start to get better just a few months after you stop smoking. Your chance of getting heart disease is much less after only one year of not smoking. If you stay off cigarettes, over time, your chance of getting heart disease is the same as someone who never smoked. No matter what your age, quitting smoking means less chance of heart disease.

Smoking Cessation (How to Stop Smoking)

How can I quit smoking?

It’s hard to quit smoking, but you can do it. One half of all adult smokers have quit. Here are some ways to help you quit smoking.

1. Pick a date to quit. Quitting all at once works better than trying to quit a little at a time.

2. Write down why you want to quit. Are you quitting for your own health, as a way to feel better, or to take care of your family?

3. Tell your family and friends you plan to quit. Ask for their help.

4. Tell you doctor that you want to quit. Ask for his or her ideas.

5. Find out about support/quit smoking groups in your area.

6. Throw away all your cigarettes before your quit date.

7. Think about when you most like to smoke cigarettes. Try and do other things when you feel the urge to smoke such as chew gum, eat a piece of candy or something crunchy, take a walk or get other kinds of exercise, read, or meditate. Some people find that hypnosis or acupuncture can help them stop smoking.

What are nicotine "substitutes" and how do they work?

Nicotine "substitutes" are gums, patches, nasal sprays and "puffers" that have nicotine in them. These products help you get over your addiction to nicotine. They work by slowly helping you get out of the nicotine habit. First you stop smoking. Then you use a nicotine product like the chewing gum or nicotine patch on your arm for one or two months. After that, you stop using the nicotine "substitute." Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about nicotine "substitutes" to find out which product might work best for you. Pregnant women and people with heart problems need to be sure to talk with their doctor before using any nicotine "substitutes."

What can you tell me about the new pill that claims it can help me stop smoking?

ZybanR is a new pill that can help some people stop smoking. You need a prescription to get this medicine. Talk to your doctor to find out if ZybanR might be right for you.

What should I do when I try to stop smoking and it doesn’t work?

Don’t give up. Pick another quit date, get support from family and friends, and try again. Many women need to quit once, twice, or even three or more times before they can stop smoking for good.

 

For More Information…

You can find out more about smoking by contacting the National Women’s Health Information Center (800-994-9662) or the following organizations:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Phone: (800) 575-9355 (Information Line)
Internet Address: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhlbi/nhlbi.htm

American Lung Association
Phone: (800) 586-4872
Internet Address: http://www.lungusa.org

American Cancer Society
Phone: (800) 227-2345
Internet Address: http://www.cancer.org

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Publication date: 1999