We Can Help You Quit Smoking

This program has been temporally suspended due to COVID, we hope to offer this service again soon.

Smoking Cessation

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for them, but quitting the habit is hard. Sometimes you need a little help and that’s where our smoking cessation experts come in. From respiratory care specialists to support group leaders to fellow “quitters,” we’re here to educate, encourage, and support you on your journey to quit smoking.

Benefits of Smoking Cessation

Smoking takes a toll not just on your lungs, but on your whole body. Quitting has both immediate and long-term health benefits including:

Within 12-24 hours: Carbon monoxide levels in the blood return to normal. In 72 hours, the bronchial tubes in the lungs start to relax. Your heart attack risk drops significantly.
In 2 weeks to 3 months: Lung function improves and your risk of heart attack continues to drop.
In 8 weeks: The risk of developing insulin resistance and diabetes caused by smoking returns to normal.
In the first 9 months: The cilia in the lungs recover and regrow and shortness of breath decreases
After 1 year: Your risk of coronary heart disease drops to half that of a smoker.
In 5 to 15 years: Your risk of stroke is down to that of a nonsmoker, and your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, or esophagus is now half that of a smoker.
In 10 years: Your risk of dying of lung cancer is half that of a continuing smoker, as is your risk of bladder cancer.
In 15 years: Your coronary heart disease risk is equal to a nonsmoker.

Help to Quit Smoking

After you set a quit date—an important first step in your smoking cessation effort—you can turn to your Penn Highlands primary care provider for help figuring out how to kick the smoking habit for good. The most successful way to quit smoking is with a combination of medication and counseling. Your primary care provider may recommend over-the-counter nicotine-replacement medications that make it easier to stop smoking because they deliver nicotine to your system through a patch, gum, or lozenge. There also are prescriptions medications including Chantix (varenicline), Zyban (bupropion), and nasal sprays and inhalers that contain nicotine.

Penn Health Highlands offers a five-week quit class for people who want help giving up cigarettes. Hosted by The Lung Center of Penn Highlands DuBois, it is a class to help - not to judge or criticize. There is no cost but pre-registration is required. Nicotine replacement aids will be provided to those are interested