Quitting at any age can help you be healthier and live longer. Find out how your health will improve when you quit smoking.
Why should you quit now?
- I want to stay healthy or get healthier.
- My doctor said I should quit.
- I will lower my risk of many illnesses that would cut down on my freedom, such as:
- Cancer
- Heart attack and stroke
- Lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis
- Cataracts (clouds in the eye that affect vision).
- I will cough less and breathe easier.
- I will have whiter teeth and healthier gums.
You can look forward to changes the moment you quit smoking. Within 20 minutes of smoking that last cigarette, your body starts making healthy changes that will continue for years. You will add healthy days and years to your life when you quit.
Should I be screened for lung cancer?
Smoking causes lung cancer. The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the higher your risk of developing cancer. Most lung cancers are found in people 55 and older. The good news is that:
- You can lower your risk of developing many cancers if you quit smoking.
- There is a screening test that can sometimes detect lung cancer early.
Talk with your health care provider about whether you should be screened for lung cancer with a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan.
