Secrets of My Legacy

Why do I need to stop smoking?
Cigarettes are the leading cause of preventable deaths in this country. Tobacco is toxic to your
body. The nicotine in cigarettes increases your risk of heart disease. The tars and other toxic
substances in tobacco can cause cancer of the lung and other organs. Tars also damage the lungs,
leading to serious breathing problems. Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide and other
chemicals, such as DDT, arsenic and formaldehyde. All of these chemicals are bad for your body.
That’s why stopping smoking now is so important.
Why does it seem so hard to stop smoking?
It seems hard to stop smoking because smoking causes changes in your body and in the way you
act. The changes in your body are caused by addiction to nicotine. The changes in the way you
act have formed over time as you have bought cigarettes, lit them and smoked them. These
changes have become your smoking habit.
When you have a smoking habit, many things seem to go along with having a cigarette. These
might include having a cup of coffee, being tense or worried, talking on the phone, driving, taking
a break at work, having a drink, socializing with friends or just wanting something to do with
your hands.
How do I get ready to stop smoking?
Set a stop date two to four weeks from now. Keep a diary of when and why you smoke to help
you better understand your smoking habit. Using the diary, you and your family doctor can
develop a plan to help you deal with the things that make you want to light a cigarette.