Health Benefits Of Quitting
Quitting tobacco is beneficial at any age.
Quitting smoking and vaping can be difficult because nicotine is
addicting, but it’s one of the most important things you can do to
improve your health. Even if you have smoked for many years or
have smoked heavily, stopping now can still lead to many
important health benefits. Just within 20 minutes of quitting your
heart rate slows.
How Smoking Affects Your Heart, Lungs and Brain
Smoking may cause COPD, cerebrovascular disease, stroke, coronary heart disease and increase your risk for dementia. See how else smoking affects your heart, lung and brain health.
Smoking raises your risk of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, since it harms the vascular system and blood flow to the brain.
Smoking damages blood vessels, making it harder for blood to pump through the body and to the brain. Smoking may cause cerebrovascular disease, stroke and coronary heart disease, which increase your risk for dementia.
Quitting smoking is one of eight lifestyle changes, known as Life’s Simple 8, that research has shown improves heart and brain health.
Lung cancer is the #1 cause of cancer death in Vermont. You can lower your risk of lung cancer by getting screened.
Boost Your Mental Health
Individuals who have behavioral health conditions are more likely to smoke than individuals without these conditions. Smoking can make mental health conditions worse and may interact with medications. Individuals with behavioral health conditions who smoke are four times more likely to die prematurely than those who do not smoke. Quitting smoking, even if you have smoked for many years or have smoked heavily, can still lead to many mental health improvements.
Quitting smoking and vaping now can:
- LOWER anxiety
- DECREASE stress levels
- IMPROVE quality of life
- INCREASE positive mood
Health Benefits Of Quitting Tobacco
- IMPROVES life expectancy
- IMPROVES oral health
- RESULTS in clearer skin and less wrinkling
- DECREASES risk of cardiovascular diseases
- LOWERS risk of cancer and COPD
- BENEFITS pregnant women and their babies
- REDUCES the risk of cognitive decline including dementia
- PROTECTS friends, family and pets from secondhand smoke
Get our free resource to learn how to protect your brain health.
Start Your Quit Journey
After you stop smoking, your body begins a series of positive changes. Some take place right away while others continue to improve over a series of weeks, months and years.