The Benefits of Living Smoke Free
From the money you'll save to the many obvious health benefits, there are plenty of reasons to quit.
What do you want to improve in your life by quitting tobacco? There are many reasons to quit, whether you smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, a pipe, or use smokeless tobacco. Check off some reasons you want to be tobacco-free.
Health benefits
___ I want to breathe without coughing or feeling short of breath.
___ I want to lower my risk for serious illness. This includes lung cancer, oral cancer, heart disease, diabetes, cataracts, chronic lung disease, and bone problems. Or lower my risk for a serious lung injury called EVALI that may happen from vaping or using e-cigarettes.
___ I want to have fewer wrinkles, softer skin, and less gum and tooth damage.
___ I want to improve my sense of taste and smell.
___ For pregnant people: I want to reduce my risk for a miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, or a low-birth-weight baby.
Personal benefits
___ I want to be able to walk, go up stairs, and exercise without getting out of breath.
___ I want to feel more in control of my life.
___ I want my hair, clothes, home, and car to smell better.
___ I want to save time by not having to take smoke breaks, buy tobacco products, or hunt for a light.
___ I want to have whiter teeth and fresher breath.
Family benefits
___ I want to reduce my child's infections caused by secondhand smoke.
___ I want to set a healthy example for my child.
___ I want to have the energy needed to play with my children and not become out-of-breath.
___ I want to reduce my family’s cancer risk.
Financial benefits
___ I want to save hundreds of dollars each year that would be spent on tobacco.
___ I want to save money on medical bills.
___ I want to save money on life, health, and car insurance premiums.
How much do you spend?
A tobacco habit is expensive. Do you know how much you spend on tobacco each year? Fill in the blanks below to find out:
A. How much do you pay for 1 pack of cigarettes, 1 cigar, 1 pouch of pipe tobacco, 1 vape cartridge, or 1 can of smokeless tobacco? $________
B. How many packs, cigars, pouches, or cans do you use each day? _______________
C. Multiply answer A with answer B:___________________
D. Multiply answer C with 365: $___________________. This is your yearly cost of using tobacco.
Besides the cost of buying tobacco, there are other costs. These include:
Costs of cleaning clothing, furniture, and car
Replacement costs for clothing and furniture
Medical costs for tobacco-related illnesses
Missed days of work because of illness
Higher health, life, and car insurance premiums
Get help
Smokefree.gov www.smokefree.gov
800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669). Call this number to be connected to your state's quit line.
877-44U-QUIT (877-448-7848). The National Cancer Institute trained counselors are available for support.
QuitNow www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking