TOBACCO USE

 
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You probably know that tobacco use and breathing in secondhand smoke are major causes of death in the U.S.

 

Tobacco and the chemicals in cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco have been shown to cause many health problems including:

◦ Heart Disease

◦ Stroke

◦ Cancer

◦ Breathing problems like Emphysema or Chronic Bronchitis

◦ Worsening of asthma

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Cigarettes and other tobacco products cause problems because:

  1. The chemicals they contain make it hard for the red blood cells to carry oxygen.

  2. When the red blood cells don’t have oxygen, they become sickle shaped. The chemicals also cause the blood vessels to become smaller. That makes it hard for even healthy red blood cells to travel to all parts of the body.

These two effects together can cause someone with sickle cell disease to have:

◦ Vaso-occlusive pain (sickle cell pain episode)

◦ Acute chest syndrome

◦ Pulmonary hypertension

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Even electronic cigarettes have potential health issues, and the safety is unknown.

 
 
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It’s never too late to quit!

This is something you can control. If you smoke or use other types of tobacco, make a plan to quit. As soon as you quit, your body will start to repair the damage that has been done.

 
 
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Tips to help you quit

  1. Set a date: Setting a specific date to quit helps you better prepare.

  2. Make a list of reasons: List reasons to quit and figure out if you’re ready to do it now. If you don’t really want to quit, you won’t be successful so it’s best to wait until you’re ready.

  3. Pay attention: Before your quit date, pay attention to when you smoke. Part of the addiction is related to habit. Knowing when you reach for the cigarette and changing your routine around will help stop the automatic reach and make it easier to quit.

  4. Decide how you plan to quit: Some people can stop “cold turkey”. Others need to decrease the number of cigarettes they smoke over time. The important thing is to quit and stay quit, not how long it takes to get there.

  5. Look into replacement products: Nicotine is the chemical that causes the pleasant feeling you get from smoking or using other types of tobacco. Some people need to replace the nicotine from tobacco with nicotine from other products to make quitting easier.

    You can get patches, gum and lozenges over the counter. Nicotine nose spray and nicotine inhalers are available with a prescription from your provider.

  6. Identify a support system: You will need people who can encourage you in your effort to quit. This can be a close friend, family member, or a smoking cessation professional. Smokefree.gov is a good resource to use as you make your plan to quit.

Tips to help you along the way

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Be kind

Make sure you are kind to yourself.

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Eat well

Make sure to eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water.

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Stay active

Exercise and keep fit as a way to help manage stress.

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Celebrate

Acknowledge all the small victories along the way. Congratulate yourself when you reach for the crossword puzzle instead of a cigarette with your morning coffee.

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Set up a reward system

Eat your favorite food when you’ve been smoke free for a week, or set aside the money you would have spent on cigarettes and splurge on something you’ve been wanting.

If you are not successful the first time, don’t give up.

Think about all of the things you did right while you were trying and use them to make a new plan.

Quitting smoking can be hard work, but it will be worth it in the end.

 
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SECTION OVERVIEW

 

  • Tobacco use and breathing in smoke are major causes of death in the U.S.

  • As soon as you quit smoking, your body will start to repair the damage that has been done.

  • It’s never too late to quit!