Smoking Cessation Support at BayCare
For most people, quitting smoking is not easy. As any long-term smoker who has quit or attempted to quit will tell you, the addiction is not just a chemical one. Smoking is a habit that is part of your daily behaviors and routines. Smoking cessation therapy should be aimed at managing all aspects of quitting – physical, emotional, psychological, and social.
At BayCare, we know that making the decision to quit smoking is a life-changing one – and a life-saving one. We offer ongoing educational events in Tampa, Clearwater, Plant City, Safety Harbor, and throughout the Tampa Bay area to help and support you during your quitting journey.
Be a Quitter – The Benefits of Smoking Cessation
The detrimental health risks of smoking are no secret. But did you know that you can start reversing these effects almost immediately when you make the decision to quit smoking? The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that:
- 20 minutes after quitting smoking, heart rate and blood pressure drop
- 12 hours after quitting smoking, carbon monoxide levels in the blood stabilize
- 3 months after quitting, circulation improves and lung function increases
The list of benefits only gets longer with each day, week, month, and year that you can go smoke-free. And by cutting out the 7,000 compounds and chemicals found in cigarettes – hundreds of them are toxic, and at least 69 can cause cancer – you will be drastically reducing your risk of:
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Early menopause
- Heart disease
- Impotence
- Infertility
- Oral, throat, esophageal, lung, colon, pancreatic and cervical cancers
The ACS notes that cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the United States. However, quitting smoking takes time, and many people face challenges along the way. The first seven to 10 days are the most difficult, according to the American Lung Association, which warns that challenges may include gaining weight, fighting urges to smoke and experiencing withdrawal symptoms.