Clear explanations of smoking, nicotine, health and tobacco-control issues from Smoke Free News.
When you stop smoking combustible tobacco, the body begins to recover almost immediately. Heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop within 20 minutes, breathing and lung function improve over time, and the long-term risks linked with smoking steadily decline.
Smoking can damage nearly every organ in the body. It is linked to cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, weakened immunity and pregnancy-related risks, while secondhand smoke can also harm people nearby.
The five A’s give clinicians and healthcare teams a practical way to identify tobacco use, encourage quitting and support patients through a quit attempt. The approach covers asking about tobacco use, advising patients to quit, assessing readiness, assisting with a quit plan and arranging follow-up.
