Hard as It Is,
It's Important That You Quit Smoking.
Quitting is the only thing that can slow the progression of COPD. Difficult as it can be, millions have managed to do it, and you can too.
Research has shown that quitting smoking is a two-step process. Regardless of the method that ultimately works for you, you will have to do two things:
- Overcome the physical addiction to nicotine
- Break the smoking habit
But even apart from COPD, quitting smoking has long-term health benefits.
, your heart rate drops.
, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
, your heart attack risk begins to drop, and your lung function begins to improve.
, your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
, your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.
, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker.
, your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker. Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.
, your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker.
Remember, quitting smoking is the only thing that can slow the
progression of COPD. It's never too late to quit smoking.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov
If you stop smoking, your COPD will go away.
REALITY: Patients with COPD who quit smoking may live longer than if they continue the habit, but once the lung damage has occurred, it is permanent. Quitting smoking is the only way to slow the progression of COPD.
