Smoking Cessation Specialist

What is smoking cessation?

Smoking cessation means quitting smoking. Most adults who smoke cigarettes want to quit, and more than half of them have made an attempt at doing so in the past year.

Of the people who try to quit, less than one in 10 of them succeed. If you’ve already tried to quit smoking without success, know that most people need repeated treatments before they’re done for good. You may just need to try a different approach this time.

Fivestar Pulmonary Associates understands it’s hard to quit smoking on your own. That’s why it provides all the support you need to quit smoking and reduce your risk of smoking-related illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or lung cancer.

What resources can help me quit smoking?

If you want to quit smoking, Fivestar Pulmonary Associates is here for you. Your provider asks about your medical history and experience with tobacco, then creates a personalized smoking cessation plan.

Research shows that a combination of medical treatments and behavioral counseling increases your chances of successfully quitting smoking. Depending on your needs, smoking cessation may include:

• Nicotine replacement products like skin patches, gum, lozenges, or inhalers
• Prescription medications to ease withdrawal symptoms
• Individual or group counseling
• Online tools and apps to help you quit
• Enlisting the support of family and friends
• Avoiding situations that may trigger the desire to smoke

It may also help to have items on hand that substitute for the cigarette you’re used to having, such as a stress ball to squeeze, gum to chew, or a crossword puzzle to keep your mind occupied.

What are the benefits of smoking cessation?

Focusing on the benefits of smoking cessation can help you stay on track. Specific benefits vary from person to person but may include:

• Saving money
• Improving overall health
• Reducing the risk of lung cancer and other diseases
• Not exposing family and friends to secondhand smoke

Smoking tobacco is the most common preventable cause of death. Shortly after you quit, your blood circulation improves, sense of smell and taste return, and breathing becomes easier. Overall, quitting smoking can help you live a longer, healthier life.

For compassionate care in smoking cessation, call Fivestar Pulmonary Associates, or book an appointment online today.