Reasons To Quit
There are thousands of reasons to quit smoking or using other tobacco products. All of them are good. And you’re not alone.
Improve Your Health
Not only will quitting tobacco improve your health, it can help you feel better and give you more energy to engage in other healthy habits like exercise.
While many people are concerned about gaining weight after they quit, it’s important to keep in mind all the benefits of quitting and how much you are doing for your health by quitting. Because smoking impacts the whole body, your entire body benefits.
If you are concerned about gaining weight, here are some tips that can help you prevent weight gain and improve your health!
For Your Family
Tobacco smoke is unhealthy for everyone in your household. But it is especially harmful to children whose lungs are still developing and to people with asthma, cancer, COPD and heart disease. In fact, smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke is one of the most common and serious asthma triggers.
The U.S. Surgeon General says there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. For anyone, being around secondhand smoke is like they’re smoking, too. Even short exposure to secondhand smoke has immediate harmful effects, such as increased risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and lung cancer.
Because of Illness
Being diagnosed with an illness can be a scary wake-up call that motivates you to take the first steps toward quitting. Whether quitting can improve your illness or help you better manage your symptoms, the health benefits can be far-reaching.
“When I quit 17 years ago, it wasn’t the first time that I’d tried to quit, but it was the last and final time. Just diagnosed with chronic bronchitis and early stage emphysema, I knew that was my final warning. I realized how lucky I was that I wasn’t being told I had lung cancer.”
NANCY
Essex Junction
Protect Baby’s Health
If you or your partner are pregnant or considering pregnancy, now is a great time to quit smoking. Quitting smoking before, during or after pregnancy is the best gift you can give yourself and your baby.
- Reduces your chance of having a miscarriage
- Gives your baby more oxygen, even after just one day of not smoking
- Creates less risk that your baby will be born early
- Improves the chance that your baby will come home from the hospital with you
- Reduces breathing problems, wheezing and sickness in babies
- Lowers risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia
Your health matters to your baby, too.
- You’ll have more energy and breathe easier
- Your breast milk will be healthier
- Your clothes, hair and home will smell better
- Your food will taste better
- You’ll have more money that you can spend on other things
- You’ll be less likely to develop heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic lung disease and other smoke-related diseases
Get FREE quit help and earn gift card rewards! Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to work with a specially trained Pregnancy Quit Coach and you can earn a $5 or $10 gift card for each completed counseling call (up to $65) during and after your pregnancy. Learn more and start earning rewards.

Honor a Lost Loved One
The loss of a loved one is an important motivation for quitting smoking. Others around Vermont have quit to honor the life of a loved one.
“My dad died from all smoking-related health issues. My mom is still alive, but has had open heart surgery due to her smoking. Unfortunately, I also have some smoking-related health issues: osteoporosis, polyps on my vocal chords and COPD. This is my very first day and I feel really good and strong. I know I can do this. I know I deserve to do it.”
CHERYL
Post Mills
Save Money
When you quit smoking or other tobacco products, it’s not just your health that you’re saving. You’ll be amazed to see what you can afford to do when you’re not spending money on cigarettes or e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff or vaping supplies. Use this calculator.
“I used to smoke a pack a day, which was getting pretty expensive. So when I quit, I started putting $5 a day in a jar in my kitchen. I’ve been quit for 8 months now, so I’ve got a pretty good chunk of change saved up. If I make it to a year being quit, I’m taking my daughter on a vacation with the money.”
FRANK
Ready to take the first step? Help is here.