Whether you want to think about kicking your tobacco habit or not, you might find it interesting to take a look at the ways tobacco has worked its way into your everyday life. Check your response: Rarely Sometimes Often Smoking or chewing tobacco is something I do when I'm out having a good time with friends. I smoke or...

Learn how to get past those things that make you want to smoke by replacing them with healthier things.

Briefly discusses brain aneurysm (also called cerebral aneurysm). Covers possible causes, including hardening of the arteries, hypertension, and smoking. Lists symptoms. Discusses treatment with surgery. Links to info on strokes.

If you are breastfeeding, many substances that you eat, drink, inhale, or inject end up in your breast milk and may harm your baby. Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco may reduce your milk production and inhibit the let-down reflex. It also may make your baby fussy or irritable. Babies who are exposed to secondhand...

Bupropion is an antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder. The Zyban brand of bupropion is used to help people stop smoking by reducing cravings and other withdrawal effects. Bupropion may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Exercise is an important part of a cardiac rehabilitation program. Combining exercise with other lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet and stopping smoking, reduces the risk of future heart problems. What kinds of exercise will you do? Riding a stationary bike, walking on a treadmill, and resistance training...

A cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program can help you make lifestyle changes. In cardiac rehabilitation (rehab), a team of health professionals provides education and support to help you make new, healthy habits. Quit smoking Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to reduce your risk of future problems. Medicines...

If you've decided to change a habit—whether it's quitting smoking, lowering your blood pressure, becoming more active, or doing something else to improve your health—congratulations! Making that decision is the first step toward making a change. 1. Have your own reason Your reason for wanting to change a...

Note: A separate PDQ summary on Levels of Evidence for Cancer Screening and Prevention Studies is also available. The cancer prevention summaries in PDQ refer to cancer prevention, defined as a reduction in the incidence of cancer. The PDQ includes summaries generally classified by histological type of cancer...

Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases of cancer in a group or population is lowered. Hopefully, this will lower the number of deaths caused by cancer. To prevent new cancers from starting, scientists look at risk factors and protective...

Learn what to think about and plan for when you're getting ready to quit smoking.

Nicotine replacement therapies are helpful for people who quit smoking. They are available in several forms, such as patches, gum, lozenges, nasal sprays, and inhalers. All forms of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) work equally well. But talk with your doctor about what products might be best for you and what...

Several medicines can help you stop smoking. You can take medicine to reduce your craving for nicotine. You also can use nicotine replacement products to reduce cravings and give you smaller and smaller amounts of nicotine. Your doctor can help you decide which medicine—or combination of medicines—will work best for...

Discusses causes and symptoms of COPD. Looks at chronic bronchitis and emphysema, two diseases that are usually a part of COPD. Covers quitting smoking. Includes treatment with bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids. Offers home treatment tips.

Find motivation to quit by comparing what you tell yourself about smoking and what the facts are.

Learn how continuing to smoke will affect your COPD symptoms.

Hear how one man with COPD finally quit after many years of smoking.

Learn ways to deal with cravings when you're trying to quit.

COVID-19 causes a mild illness in many people who have it. But certain things may increase your risk for more serious illness. These include: Age. The risk increases with age. Older adults are at highest risk. Smoking. Obesity. Living in a long-term care facility. Having ongoing serious...

Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that is used to treat cough caused by the common cold or flu. Dextromethorphan will not treat a cough caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema. There are many brands and forms of dextromethorphan available. Not all brands are listed on this leaflet. Dextromethorphan may also be...

Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. Guaifenesin is an expectorant. Dextromethorphan and guaifenesin is a combination medicine used to treat cough and chest congestion caused by the common cold or allergies. Dextromethorphan will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking. There are many brands and forms of this...

Discusses ectopic pregnancy (tubal pregnancy), a condition where a fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus. Covers tests and treatments. Discusses complications, including fallopian tube damage. Covers risk factors like smoking, PID, or tubal ligation.

Note: Separate PDQ summaries on Esophageal Cancer Screening, Esophageal Cancer Treatment (Adult), and Levels of Evidence for Cancer Screening and Prevention Studies are also available. Who Is at Risk? Smoking and drinking alcohol may account for roughly 90% of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cases in Western...

Guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and pseudoephedrine is a combination medicine used to treat cough, stuffy nose, sinus congestion, and chest congestion caused by the common cold. This medicine will not treat a cough with mucus, or cough that is caused by smoking, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis. Guaifenesin, hydrocodone, and...

Smokeless tobacco products include chewing tobacco and snuff. These products are less harmful than smoking cigarettes. But they are just as addictive as cigarettes and do have serious health risks. Smokeless tobacco causes the following health risks: 1 White, leathery patches ( leukoplakia ) that form on the inside of...

If you have decided to start a healthy eating plan, congratulations! Making that decision is an important step in becoming a healthier person. Keep these key points in mind: When you're trying to develop new habits—whether it's healthy eating, getting more exercise, or quitting smoking—you have a better...

Covers risk of heart disease and stroke in women. Lists things that increase risk. Lists prevention steps, such as diet, exercise, not smoking, managing cholesterol and blood pressure, and making decisions on birth control and hormone therapy.

You can help keep your heart and blood vessels healthy by taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle. These healthy habits include not smoking, eating right, exercising regularly, staying at a healthy weight, and getting the screening tests you need. A heart-healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, not just for...

Interactive tool measures your readiness to quit smoking. Helps you identify the stage of change that you're in. Offers questions to help you think about what to do next. Includes link to more extensive info on quitting tobacco use.

Interactive tool that helps you estimate the impact smoking will have on your lifespan. Provides links to info on quitting tobacco use and a decision tool to determine whether you're ready to quit smoking.

Interactive tool helps you calculate how much money you have spent on cigarettes in the past and how much you will spend on them in the future if you keep smoking. Offers link to more extensive info on quitting tobacco use.

When John Peterson is behind the wheel of his race car, he's doing more than just trying to win a race. With every lap, he's passing on a message to racing fans about not smoking. John is a race car driver, and his team is Smoke-Free 83. With each lap, fans see John's car covered with information about quitting tobacco...

Experts believe that one-third to one-half of all cancers can be prevented. That's because there are certain things about our lifestyles—our daily habits—that can make us more likely to get cancer. Here are some steps you can take today to help prevent cancer: Quit smoking. Eat well. Stay at a healthy weight. Stay...

Linda's best friend had just had a heart attack. Linda, 56, and Terri, 52, work together in the records section of their city's police department. They had also been working on getting healthier together. They both had high cholesterol and were overweight. They both smoked. But they'd been going to aerobics class and...

Discusses causes of lung cancer, including smoking and exposure to asbestos or radon. Covers symptoms and how lung cancer is diagnosed. Covers treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Includes info on palliative care.

Most lung cancer is caused by smoking. After you quit, your risk for lung cancer drops gradually. By 10 years, your risk will be about half of what it would have been if you had continued to smoke. This risk continues to decline as the number of years of not smoking increases. 1 Two other lung diseases related to...

Note: Separate PDQ summaries on Lung Cancer Screening; Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment; Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment; and Cigarette Smoking: Health Risks and How to Quit are also available. Who Is at Risk? Lung cancer risk is largely a function of older age combined with extensive cigarette smoking history...

Almost everyone wants to change or improve some part of his or her life. For some people, it's eating better or getting more exercise. For others, it might be quitting smoking or drinking less. But whatever the change, you have to be ready to make it. And the reality is that only you know when you're ready for a change...

Below are some of the most common and helpful strategies people use to get through the tough period of nicotine withdrawal. Make a list of your smoking triggers. It is wiser to avoid triggers after you have quit smoking than to tempt yourself too soon. If you cannot avoid them early on, be cautious when they are...

What would motivate you to quit smoking? Take a moment to fill out the smoker's self-test. Be honest when you answer the questions. You may discover that you have more good reasons to quit than to continue using tobacco. Decide if you agree with any of these statements. _____It makes me uncomfortable to know that I am...

Nancy started smoking in nursing school. It helped relieve the stress of school. But years later, something happened to make her think twice about her smoking habit. Nancy was working as a nurse and was exposed to someone who had a bad case of pneumonia. As a precaution, Nancy was checked for pneumonia. The X-ray...

After 8 years of trying to quit smoking, Nate was sick of it—literally. His throat hurt so much from smoking that he said to himself, "This is stupid." He tossed his pack of cigarettes to a friend and hasn't looked back. Nate started smoking in his teens with friends from school. After 2 years of smoking, he'd had...

"I've been smoking ever since I was a teenager. That's 40-something years ago. I never really thought about what could happen to this old body if I kept lighting up. I just knew that I loved to smoke. "Then I started to notice that it was getting harder and harder to do simple things like walk to my mailbox. One time my...

Nicotine is the primary ingredient in tobacco products. Nicotine gum and lozenges are medical products used to aid in smoking cessation in adults. Using a controlled amount of nicotine helps reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms when you quit smoking. Nicotine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication...

Nicotine is the primary ingredient in tobacco products. Nicotine nasal spray and inhalation are medical products used to help you stop smoking and help reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms as you quit smoking. Nicotine nasal or inhalation may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Nicotine is the primary ingredient in tobacco products. Nicotine transdermal (skin patch) is a medical product used to help you stop smoking and help reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms as you quit smoking. Nicotine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Learn why nicotine makes it hard to quit smoking and how it can be overcome.

A nicotine patch looks like an oversized adhesive bandage. The outer part of the patch sticks to your skin, while the inner portion presses against and slowly releases nicotine into your skin. See a picture of how to use these patches to help you quit smoking or stop using smokeless tobacco. Nicotine patches are...

Covers causes and symptoms of osteoporosis in women. Looks at treatment with medicine. Includes steps to slow bone loss with exercise, eating healthy foods, and quitting smoking. Covers protecting yourself from falling to prevent broken bones.

Physical activity is one of the best things you can do to help prevent a heart attack and stroke. Being active is one part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy foods, not smoking, and staying at a healthy weight are other ways you can be heart-healthy and help prevent a heart attack or a stroke. If you are not...