You Can Quit!
Take The First Step Towards Stopping Tobacco Use
Tobacco contains thousands of harmful chemicals, including more than 70 known to cause cancer. Stopping tobacco use can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and other serious health problems. Within a few months of stopping smoking, you may notice improvements in your breathing, circulation, and overall energy levels.
Stopping tobacco use can improve your mental health, reduce stress, and increase your lifespan. There are a variety of approaches that can help you on your journey to better health, including individual counseling, group support, and nicotine replacement therapy, It is never too late to stop using tobacco and start improving your health!
CHC/SEK is here to help, and with effort, determination, and support, you can achieve your health goals and improve your quality of life.
We Are Here To Help When You Are Ready
CHC/SEK is here to help you take the first step towards stopping your use of tobacco products. Our team of counselors, healthcare professionals, and peer support can provide individual counseling, group counseling, nicotine replacement therapy, and other resources to help you along your journey.
Resources to Stop Using Tobacco
CHC/SEK offers resources to help you stop smoking, vaping, chewing, and using other forms of tobacco. Our team will provide you with the information and support you need to make an informed decision about your health. We will help you develop a plan that is tailored to your individual needs to help you reach your goal of stopping tobacco use.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
CHC/SEK offers nicotine replacements such as gum, patches, and lozenges to help you stop using tobacco products.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a proven and effective way to stop using tobacco. It works by supplying the body with small doses of nicotine without the harmful chemicals found in tobacco. Nicotine is the addictive substance — tobacco contains the harmful chemicals. These small doses of nicotine from NRT help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping the use of tobacco such as smoking, vaping, and chewing.
Nicotine replacement therapy comes in various forms such as nicotine gum, patches, inhalers, and lozenges. Using a combination of NRT products has been found to be even more effective in stopping smoking, vaping, and the use of other tobacco products. Studies have shown that people who use nicotine replacement therapy are twice as likely to stop using tobacco successfully compared to those who don’t.
Using KanQuit to Quit Tobacco
We strongly encourage our patients to use KanQuit. KanQuit is a free service for all Kansans that provides counseling, support, and other resources to help you stop using tobacco. KanQuit provides coaching over the phone or online, text messaging, email support, and quit medication (nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges) to those that qualify.
- The Quitline is free. The cost is paid by your public health department, health plan, or employer.
- The Quitline is based on proven strategies. KanQuit has already helped more than 1.5 million people in their quit journey.
- The Quitline is self-paced and customized for each person. You decide the details of your plan such as how often you speak with a quit coach and whether you use quit medications.
- The Quitline is staffed by trained coaches, all of whom have completed rigorous Tobacco Treatment Specialist training.
Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit KSquit.org to get started today.
How to Stop Using Tobacco
If you’re considering stopping smoking, vaping, or using other tobacco products, you’re making a positive step towards improving your health and well-being. Although it may be difficult to stop, there are many resources available to support you on your journey.
Firstly, it’s essential to acknowledge that stopping smoking, vaping, or using other tobacco products is a process and it takes time. Research shows that it can take multiple attempts before successfully stopping. Therefore, it’s best to take it one day at a time.
Health Benefits of Stopping Smoking
Stopping smoking can significantly reduce your risk of developing smoking-related diseases, even if you’ve smoked for many years. The health benefits start almost immediately after you stop smoking, and they continue to improve over time.
Within twenty minutes of stopping smoking, your heart rate and blood pressure drop. Within twelve hours, your carbon monoxide levels return to normal. Within two to twelve weeks, your circulation improves, and lung function increases. These improvements make it easier to exercise and breathe.
Health Benefits of Stopping Vaping
Stopping vaping can have tremendous health benefits, both in the short and long term. By stopping vaping, you are reducing the risks of lung, heart, and brain damage, improving your overall health and well-being.
Within twenty minutes of stopping vaping, your blood pressure and pulse return to typical levels, and the blood circulation throughout your body improves. Your lungs already begin to clear out mucus and other debris that may have accumulated from vaping. Within 8-12 hours, the high levels of carbon monoxide in your blood significantly decrease, making more oxygen available quickly.
By stopping vaping, you give your body a chance to heal and recover from the damages caused by vaping. You will breathe easier, have more energy, and reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases.
Health Benefits of Stopping Chewing
Chewing tobacco is a harmful habit that can lead to serious health problems. Not only does it increase your risk of oral cancer, but it can also damage your teeth and gums, cause bad breath, and even contribute to heart disease and stroke.
Stopping chewing tobacco can have dramatic health benefits. Within just twenty minutes of stopping, your blood pressure and heart rate begin to reduce, and within a year, your risk of oral cancer decreases by half. Additionally, your sense of taste and smell will improve, and your teeth and gums will become healthier and less prone to decay.
Improve Your Quality of Life
The good news is that even if you’re a long-term heavy tobacco-user, stopping smoking, vaping, and using other forms of tobacco products at any age can increase your life expectancy. Additionally, stopping can improve your quality of life as it can reduce your risk of respiratory infections, gum disease, and improve your sense of smell and taste.
Creating a Plan
It’s important to develop a plan and set realistic goals to stop using tobacco. For instance, breaking the habit by avoiding triggers and distractions that make it difficult to quit can be of great help. Planning ahead with a positive approach to things can help you stay tobacco-free and will also provide better results.
A System of Support
Most importantly, take care of yourself, stay positive, and celebrate your accomplishments as you make progress toward stopping smoking, vaping, and using other tobacco products. Surround yourself with friends and family members who support your decision and will celebrate your successes with you.
Leaving tobacco is a process that takes time, and there are many resources available to support you. Don’t give up if you relapse; instead, continue to try and take small steps towards your goal until you succeed. Remember, you are capable of making this positive change, you’re on the right path towards a healthier life, and CHC/SEK can help.
Tobacco FAQs
Tobacco products contain nicotine, a highly addictive chemical found naturally in tobacco plants. Nicotine addiction affects you physically and psychologically.
Tobacco smoke contains many chemicals that are harmful to both smokers and nonsmokers. Among the 250 known harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 69 can cause cancer.
No. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. It is not water vapor. It contains many of the same chemicals as cigarettes.
No. Cigars contain the same toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarettes. Regularly smoking cigars is associated with an increased risk for cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx, and oral cavity.
No. Smokeless tobacco is known to cause oral cancers and other health conditions, including: bad breath, stained teeth, and bone loss around the teeth.
There are approximately 600 ingredients in cigarettes. When burned, cigarettes create more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 69 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are toxic.
No. It is never “too late.” As soon as you stop, your body will begin to repair itself. You’ll notice improvements in your breathing, sense of taste and smell just a few days after stopping.
No. Vaping produces an aerosol mist that contains chemicals. Unlike water vapor, the aerosol mist includes ultra-fine particles that are breathed into the lungs.
No. While it can be frustrating to start smoking or using tobacco again, each time you stop, you learn different skills. Remind yourself why you want to stop, and take control again.
Yes. NRT products do not cause death and diseases like tobacco products do. Most of the dangers of smoking are due to the hundreds of toxic chemicals in tobacco, not the nicotine.
Yes. Call KanQuit at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit KSquit.org to get started today.
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Who is CHC/SEK ?
CHC/SEK is the largest federally qualified not-for-profit health center (FQHC) in Kansas. We provide medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, care management and support services to more than 70,000 individuals annually throughout the region.
Our mission is to transform healthcare by addressing and removing barriers we all face in accessing quality healthcare and providing services to everyone regardless of income or insurance status.