Skip Navigation

U S Department of Health and Human Services www.hhs.govOffice of Public Health and Science
WomensHealth.gov - The Federal Source for Women's Health Information Sponsored by the H H S Office on Women's Health
1-800-994-9662. TDD: 1-888-220-5446
Smoking and How to Quit
smoking icon

Smoking and How to Quit

E-mail this page to a friend
Picture of woman

About 1 out of every 5 women in America smokes, and women are starting to smoke at younger and younger ages. Did you know that lung cancer kills more women every year than breast cancer? More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from AIDS, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined.

Smoking can also affect more than just your lungs. Smoking can increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, osteoporosis (thinning or weakening of your bones), and cancers other than lung cancer. It can also reduce your ability to get pregnant and increase your chances of having problems with your pregnancy.

This section of womenshealth.gov will help you and the people you love to not smoke! Along with information on the health effects of smoking, we provide you with resources to help you quit if you are a smoker. We encourage you to learn as much as you can about smoking and share this information with your loved ones. Remember, it's best not to start smoking. If you do smoke, don't give up on quitting. We know how hard quitting can be, but you'll be glad you did! Being smoke-free will help you to live longer with better health.

Get the support you need to quit smoking.

See our list of support resources
 

Picture of woman smilingSpeak Up

I feel good. I have not had a smoke in over 24 hours. Dealing with the craving right now. Hope it lasts. Pray for me and I will pray you so we all can beat this.
william from Virginia
I am on day 6 of not smoking. I am, for some reason, having a VERY hard day. Besides day 1, this is the only day I have physically reached for my cigarettes (thank goodnes I do not have any - I may have been on pack 2 by now). I quit because my 5 year old asked me too, and as much as I love him I really enjoyed the smoking. But he also has been one of my greatest motivators!! When I have a craving, I do my deep breathing and think of how my son's face looked when I told him I was quitting. But 2 days ago I got a cold. I am all stuffy and it is making my deep breathing very hard! I am jumping on my husband's case every time I turn around, then the next moment I am crying. Then I feel so stupid for being so controlled by something. My thinking seems messed up and my concentration is gone. I feel like I am putting all my energies into not wanting a cigarette. I am glad I am not alone. But really, does it get easier???? I heard day 3 and week 2 was the worst. Got past that day, then someone told me that month 11 was the worst... ARE THEY SERIOUS????? I thought if I could get past week 2 I would be home free... But by month 11 I will probably be in the hospital for stress, divorced and my kid will hate me. It was quite a downer. I hope it gets better.
Christal from Missouri

Content last updated June 17, 2009.

Skip navigation

This site is owned and maintained by the Office on Women's Health
in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Icon for portable document format (Acrobat) files You may need to download a free PDF reader to view files marked with this icon.


Home | Site index | Contact us

Health Topics | Tools | Organizations | Publications | Statistics | News | Calendar | Campaigns | Funding Opportunities
For the Media | For Health Professionals | For Spanish Speakers (Recursos en Español)

About Us | Disclaimer | Freedom of Information Act Requests | Accessibility | Privacy

U S A dot Gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal