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Women who smoke double their risk for developing coronary heart disease and increase by more than ten-fold their likelihood of dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Smoking & How to Quit

Share Your Story

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Have a helpful hint or motivating thought to share? Tell us your story. Encourage others. Share strategies for quitting smoking. This area is for you.

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After smoking 2 packs a day for 25 years, here's what helped me quit:

Set a date, at least 1 month in advance.
Develop a plan for rewards; smoking isn't cheap, you'll be saving a lot of money! After quitting for 1 week reward yourself with the amount you have saved, then at 1 month, 3 months, etc.
Remember to get rid of everything associated with smoking, lighters, ashtrays...it all has to go so you will have less triggers.

After one week you'll start to notice the smell in the house, so do a good, thorough cleaning and wash your hands a lot-I think the nicotine comes out of your pours and you can smell it. Eventually it will be gone and you'll feel so much better! Good luck!

Judy from Wyoming

I have been smoking for 13 years. I will be 31 on the 19 of this month and I really want to stop smoking. I have tried about 3 times, but I don't think I was really ready. I went to the emergency room yesterday because I was having a heavy cough and chest pain, the doctor give me an x-ray and later told me I have a acute lung disease. I cried. I am not ready to die or leave my family (I have a 13 year old daughter). At this point I have not smoked in 2 hours and I want to keep it that way, a non-smoker for good! Thank you all for your stories, it has really helped me.

Tonica from District of Columbia

Seven days for me! I quit cold turkey! After I spent 3 days in the emergency room with a collapsed lung.

I am 40 years old and I refuse to be the one told "you have lung cancer, your going to die!" Especially when all I have to do is get through some withdrawal symptoms that are annoying but will not kill me. I am fighting for my life and I will win! So remember, you will win, too!

susan from Oregon

I was a pack a day smoker for 10 years. I was literally ALWAYS smoking a cigarette, even when I was coughing. I thought I would never be able to quit smoking as my cravings for them were so high—literally every 20 minutes! I went to the doctor and received a prescription to help me quit, and it TRULY works! The side effects are rather interesting but I have been a non-smoker for 3 months now and it is truly AMAZING! If I can do it...ANYONE CAN! My advice is that you have to really want to kick cigarettes for good! Good luck!

Justin from Texas

I am a 51 year old nurse who quit smoking in 1985. Despite the fact that I am a healthcare worker who sees the effects of smoking every day, I did not quit until my husband who also smoked made me go to the American Cancer Society's Quit Smoking Program at my place of employment. They utilized a behavior modification program that allowed me to quit over a two week period of time without the struggles of nicotine withdrawal. I highly recommend this program to others because I have not had a cigarette since I quit in 1985. I also had a history of smoking through bronchitis attacks, and even a bout of pneumonia prior to quitting, like many smokers who refuse to acknowledge the true devastation on the body that smoking affords you. Please listen to my advice. Smoking does age you internally, especially your bone health, which I think can be very detrimental to women. Death from lung cancer is not a pretty site for you or your family members. Remember, you are in control of yourself, not the nicotine. The best thing I did for myself is to quit smoking. I look, feel, and smell better. If I can do it with an addictive personality, so can you. Find other positive ways to channel your efforts for a better life. Exercise, eat well, and be glad that you are not limiting your life through your smoking efforts. Stay strong!

jackie from Florida

I was a three pack a day smoker for 13 years. I was hospitalized numerous times and now have chronic lung problems. I quit smoking 9 months ago using a therapy my doctor recommended and it was the best thing I ever did for myself! Quitting is not easy, but so rewarding. Smoking keeps you sick and it keeps you weak. In the first weeks you always want just one more, but it never stays that way, does it? One more turns into 2 or more years of buying packs upon packs of cigarettes. When you feel like relapsing remember how miserable you were when you smoked. And remember that the reasons you quit in the first place are still there and just as important as they were the day you quit.

Adele from Illinois

I am 37 and began smoking when I was 16. In those 21 years I didn't try quitting at all - I always had an excuse as to why I needed to smoke (stress, work, vacations, drinks with friends, because it's summer, because it's raining, because it's snowing, because it's dark, because I enjoy it with coffee, with alcohol...etc.). My inspiration came from meeting a wonderful woman (non-smoker - who hated smoking). I didn't want her to know my secret - so I quit (I told her I had given up years ago). Today is Day 65 since quit day and it hasn't been easy. I think about a smoke every second of the day, but not letting my new lady down is what is driving me to never smoke again. My suggestion to those who are struggling to quit is to find that reason, that inspiration in your life - I think that is the only real way to quit. Thanks for listening to me.

Anonymous from Arizona

I just found out a family member has cancer. My reaction was to quit smoking. I feel a lot better now; my skin feels and looks great. I like having nice smelling hair and clean white teeth. I did want to contribute and let other people know smoking can cause all types of cancer: bladder, oral, nasal, skin, etc.; not just lung cancer. Good luck in quitting!

Hugo from Texas

This is day 27 of being a non-smoker! I say this with pride too! I've tried many times to quit but this time is working so far. What works is having a partner to quit with. What also works (for me), forget patches, pills, etc., was expressing myself to my husband in times of stress. He has been the strong one. No patches, pills, etc. He is just glad we stopped! It is wonderful to not be hooked by something like cigarettes. Just think, the pleasure is only a few seconds after lighting up. Not worth those few seconds. I love being free! So, get a partner and vent to each other when times are tough. 27 days and tough times are fewer and fewer. We can do it! YES WE CAN!!!!!!!

Patricia from Connecticut

Hi, I'm a smoker for about 10 years now, and the longest that I didn't smoke for was 9 months, when I had my son. I was doing my pregnancy test and smoking a cigarette at the same time. It was positive. I had about 4 cigarettes during my first pregnancy and after every one of then I felt sick. I started smoking again a month after I had my son. I am pregnant with my second baby and I am about 4 weeks and I just can't stop. But I know I have to because I know this will affect my baby for the rest of its life.

Sara from Connecticut

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Content last updated October 27, 2008.

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