Tobacco Free Living

The Basics

Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do for your health. The sooner you quit, the sooner your body can begin to heal. You will feel better and have more energy to be active with your family and friends.

The Devastating Effects

Smoking is the most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Smoking and breathing secondary smoke causes:

• Lung cancer
• Many other types of cancer
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Pregnancy problems
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Lung disorders
• Gum disease
• Vision problems (cataracts)

Quit Smoking Today Video

Being Tobacco Free

Being tobacco-free means avoiding all tobacco products, including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco or “chew,” and secondhand smoke. Avoiding tobacco use can help you- and those around you- look and feel better now and keep you healthy for the future. Quitting tobacco can help you:

• Lower blood pressure and pulse
• Improve circulation
• Improve lung function
• Increase energy and stamina
• Improve sense of taste and smell
• Have healthy skin and teeth
• Have clean-smelling clothes, homes, and cars
• Save money
• Drastically reduce the risk of early death

The Long Term Benefits

Within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of healthy changes that continue for years. After you stop smoking, in:

• 20 minutes – Your heart rate drops.
• 12 hours – Carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• 2 weeks to 3 months – Your risk of heart attack begins to drop, and your lung function begins to improve.
• 1 to 9 months – Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
• 1 year – Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.
• 5 years – Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker’s 5-15 years after quitting.
• 10 years – Your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker, and your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases.
• 15 years – Your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a non-smoker.

Take Action and Call it Quits!

Join Ventura County Public Health’s FREE Quit Assistance Program “Call it Quits!”

Call it Quits is a Ventura County program that helps you discover why you smoke, your triggers, and helps you develop a plan on dealing with the habits of smoking. FREE nicotine replacement therapy products (patches, gum or lozenges) are provided to help ease the transition from smoker to non-smoker.

Call it Quits provides quit assistance and support to Ventura County Residents and Employees by:

• Presenting tools for a successful quit
• Group classes, telephone counseling and one-on-one assistance
• Supplying free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
• Educating family and friends on how to best help the quitter

Call today to talk with a local trained profession who can recommend a counseling program of your choice. Classes are usually in the early evening and run for several weeks.

Smoke-Free Workplaces

Tips and toolkits for smoke-free workplaces:

• Save Lives, Save Money: Make Your Business Smoke-Free, Center for Disease Control
• The Business Case for Investing in a Smoke-Free Workplace, Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention

To register, call 805/201-STOP, 805/201-7867
Also, go online to the Ventura County Public Health Tobacco program.

Additional Resources

• California Smokers Helpline
• Quit Net
• Freedom from Smoking-The American Lung Association
• Tobacco Free CA