Reasons to Quit Smoking

Quitting helps protect and support the people I love:

• I will set a positive example for my kids and family and help keep them healthier.
• My family, friends, coworkers, and others will be proud of me.
• I will protect my family and friends from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
• I will have more energy to do things with the people I love.
• I will get healthier so I can live longer and share life's important moments with my family.

Quitting smoking has a real impact on how you look and feel.

• Smoking can have bad effects on your oral health. Nicotine may cause tooth loss, gum disease, bad breath, mouth sores, and mouth dryness.
• Your teeth and fingernails will stop yellowing and staining.
• After quitting, your skin can look brighter, healthier, and more youthful.
• Guys will be less likely to experience erectile dysfunction when they quit.

Fresh breath, fresh confidence. Quitting helps you look good and feel good.

Smoking harms more than your health. It harms the planet too.

• Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world. They end up on roadsides, beaches, parks, and waterways.
• Filters contain toxic chemicals that can leak into soil and water.
• Cigarette production and smoke pollution contribute to air and environmental damage.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies nicotine waste as hazardous because of its toxicity. 

Quitting protects your lungs and your planet. Every cigarette you don't smoke is one less piece of toxic litter in the environment.

If you smoke one pack a day, quitting will save you around $3,450 every year.

Think about what you could spend that money on instead:

• A new TV
• A trip or weekend getaway with family or friends
• Concert tickets
• New clothes or tech upgrades

And the savings do not stop there:

• You will pay less for health and life insurance
• You avoid costs from tobacco-related health problems and frequent trips to the doctor
• You skip those late-night runs to buy cigarettes and enjoy more time and freedom in your day

Quitting gives your wallet a break and helps you focus on the things you love.

After only two months without smoking, you will cough and wheeze less. 

Your blood is less thick and flows better, including to your hands and feet.

Everyday activities like walking, dancing, or exercising can start to feel easier.

Quit so you can breathe freely, feel stronger, and proudly celebrate every win along the way!

Smoking immediately harms nearly every organ of the body.

• Your Brain: Nicotine literally changes your mind. It is addictive as heroin. Quitting can bring cravings, anxiety, and irritability at first, because your brain is healing.
• Your Ears, Eyes, and Mouth: Smoking may cause hearing loss, low night vision, cataracts, cavities, tooth loss, gum disease, as well as cancers of the mouth and throat.
• Your Face: Smoking can cause dry skin, early wrinkles, and stretch marks.
• Your Heart: Nicotine puts stress on your heart and raises blood pressure. It increases your risks of blood clots, stroke, and heart attack.
• Your DNA: Every cigarette can damage your DNA, which may lead to cancer. Tobacco causes about one-third of all cancer deaths.

Quitting now helps your body start healing. Your future self will thank you.

Quitting smoking before pregnancy or as soon as you find out you are pregnant is best. Still, quitting at any time helps protect both you and your baby.

Quitting can:

• Increase your baby's oxygen levels
• Support healthy lung development
• Lower the risk of premature birth or miscarriage
• Reduce the chance of low birth weight

Every smoke-free day gives your baby a healthier start in life. You are doing something amazing!

Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States.

Quitting lowers your risk of cancer, heart attacks, and stroke.

Your immune system becomes stronger too, which means fewer sick days and a healthier you.

Quitting means you will no longer experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms caused by nicotine in cigarettes, and your body begins to repair the damage right away.

Your lungs work better, your circulation improves, and you can breathe easier during everyday activities.

You'll literally add years—quality years—to your life by quitting now.

Smoking weakens the lungs and your immune system, which makes it harder for your body to fight respiratory infections like the flu, colds, and other viruses that affect breathing.

Quitting can:

• Help your lungs clear mucus and germs more effectively
• Improve your body's ability to fight infections
• Lower your chances of getting seriously sick from respiratory illnesses

Within about 72 hours of quitting, healthy cells in the lungs start to recover, and breathing becomes easier.

Now is a powerful time to protect your health and give your lungs a fresh start.