Advanced cancer care to heal the whole person
Be a Quitter
Quitting smoking is hard. We can help.
CHI Memorial offers smoking cessation classes to help you stop smoking. The four-week course helps participants learn how to overcome tobacco addiction so they can start enjoying the benefits of better health. The program is offered in a small, nonjudgemental setting and includes the following topics:
- Lifestyle changes that make quitting easier
- Stress management
- Avoiding weight gain
- Staying smoke-free for good
New classes begin monthly. Virtual and in-person sessions are available. For more information or to register, call (423) 495-7778.
Confidential quit lines offer free counseling
Tennessee Quit Line
Georgia Quit Line
- 877-270- STOP (877-270-7567)
- Español (877) 2NO-FUME (877-266-3863)
Additional resources to help.
- Smoke Free - National Institutes of Health
- How to Quit - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- How to Quit Smoking - American Cancer Society
- Quit Smoking & Vaping - American Heart Association
Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking
According to the American Cancer Society, within minutes of smoking your last cigarette, your body begins to recover:
- 20 minutes after quitting - Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
- A few days after quitting - The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
- 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting - Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
- 1 to 12 months after quitting - Coughing and shortness of breath decrease. Tiny hair-like structures (called cilia) that move mucus out of the lungs start to regain normal function, increasing their ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
- 1 to 2 years after quitting - Your risk of heart attack drops dramatically.
- 5 to 10 years after quitting - Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box (larynx) is cut in half. Your stroke risk decreases.
- 10 years after quitting - Your risk of lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking (after 10 to 15 years). Your risk of cancer of the bladder, esophagus, and kidney decreases.
- 15 years after quitting - Your risk of coronary heart disease is close to that of a non-smoker.