Smoking, Vaping & Tobacco

Quitting tobacco is one of the best decisions you can make for your health. Some benefits include:

• Live longer and feel better
• Breathe easier and have more energy
• Lower your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cancer
• Protect loved ones from secondhand smoke
• Save money—thousands of dollars per year
• Improve your skin, teeth and sense of taste and smell

Smoking harms almost every organ in the body. It increases the risk of:

• Heart disease and circulation problems
• Stroke and brain aneurysms
• Lung, throat, and other cancers
• Chronic lung diseases like COPD and emphysema
• Asthma and respiratory infections
• Fertility problems and birth complications
• Early wrinkles, bad breath, and discolored teeth

Example: The Heart Attack Risk

For a man in his 40s with high blood pressure and cholesterol:

• With smoking: 29% risk of a heart attack in the next 10 years
• Quit smoking: risk drops to 9%
• Quit smoking and manage blood pressure/cholesterol: risk drops to 3%

Use this calculator to see how much quitting could save you:
Smoking Cost Calculator - SmokeFree.gov

Example:
A person smoking 1 pack/day at $9 per pack will save about $3,285 a year or over $49,000 in 10 years (with price increases).

You can use those savings to buy nicotine replacement products while quitting—and later, to celebrate your success.

E-cigarettes (vapes) are not a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes. They contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals.

Learn more:
CDC: E-Cigarettes

Use the S.T.A.R.T. method to get ready:

• Set a quit date (within the next 2 to 4 weeks)
• Tell friends and family for support
• Anticipate challenges and plan how to overcome them
• Remove tobacco from your life (home, car, clothing, etc.)
• Talk to your doctor about medications that can help

Create a personalized quit plan:
Smokefree.gov Quit Plan

• Delay – Wait 10 minutes; the urge will often pass
• Distract – Do something else like walk, call a friend, or read
• Drink water – Helps manage cravings and keeps your hands busy
• Deep breaths – Inhale through your nose, exhale slowly
• Discuss – Talk to a support person or quit coach

• Get rid of all cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays
• Avoid alcohol (especially early on)
• Learn new ways to manage stress
• Avoid people or places that make you want to smoke
• Surround yourself with non-smokers
• Reflect on past quit attempts to improve your plan
• Use medications or resources to stay on track
• Quit with a friend or family member
• Don't smoke—not even one cigarette 

• The Butt Stops Here
  A free online quitting program from St. Peter’s Health Partners.
• New York State Smokers' Quitline
  Talk with a quit coach by phone, text, or chat. Get free gum, patches, or lozenges.
  Call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487)
  Text “QUITNOW” to 333888
• SmokeFree.gov
  Build your quit plan, sign up for text message programs, and learn about quitting tools.
• LiveHelp from the National Cancer Institute
  Chat online with counselors for support.
• CDC: Smoking & Tobacco Use
  Learn about the health effects and how to quit.
• Nicotine Anonymous
  Join a free 12-step support group in-person or online.
• American Cancer Society
  Get information on how to stop smoking and why it's important.
• American Lung Association
  Find quitting tools and learn about vaping risks.