Preparing for surgery: Stop using tobacco

If you smoke tobacco products, it is important to quit smoking before surgery. Smoking can delay your body's healing process. Smoking also:

makes your blood vessels constrict (become smaller), which reduces the amount of oxygen-rich blood in your bloodstream
causes your blood to clot faster, which can lead to heart and blood flow problems
causes your blood pressure and heart rate to rise.

What tobacco does to your body

Smoking:

increases your heart rate, blood pressure and the workload of your heart
causes heart disease and stroke
causes lung diseases (such as bronchitis, emphysema and cancer)
causes most cancers of the mouth, larynx, esophagus and bladder
adds to the risk of cancer of the stomach, pancreas, cervix and kidney
makes asthma symptoms worse
causes heartburn and peptic ulcers.

Benefits of quitting smoking

If you smoke, your goal is to quit smoking. The benefits of quitting happen right away and continue many years later:

8 hours: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal and the oxygen level in your blood increases to normal.
24 hours: Your chance of a heart attack decreases.
48 hours: Nerve endings start to grow again; your senses of smell and taste improve.
2 weeks: Circulation to your hands and feet improve; your ability to exercise is increased; your lung function increases up to 30 percent.
1-9 months: Your cough, stuffy nose, and shortness of breath decrease; your energy level increases.
1 year: Your chance of heart disease is cut in half.
5 years: Your chance of a stroke is the same as a nonsmoker; your chance of dying from lung cancer is cut in half.
10 years: Your risk of cancer, stroke, and heart disease is the same as a nonsmoker's risk.

Preparing to quit

Make a pact with yourself to quit.
Pick a date for quitting.
Write down your three most important reasons for quitting on a card. Carry the card with you or post it on the refrigerator and look at it several times a day.
Start reducing your smoking. Don't allow yourself to smoke in certain places.
Visualize yourself as a nonsmoker.
Plan your reward for each day you don't smoke.

Actually quitting

Get rid of all cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
Throw away your ashtrays.
Don't allow smoking in your home — if other family members want to smoke, ask them to go outside.
Avoid "high risk" situations: bars, parties and smoking environments.
Think positively. Believe you can quit and don't make a big deal of it.
Take it one day at a time. If you fall off the wagon, climb back on! Remember that even the most intense craving lasts only five to 10 minutes … so wait it out!

Quitting aids

Talk with your health care provider about which way(s) to quit may help you the most.

Over-the-counter products include nicotine gum, nicotine lozenge (Commit™), and the nicotine patch (Nicoderm� and Nicotrol�).
Prescription products include Zyban� (bupropion), nicotine nasal spray, nicotine inhaler, and nicotine patch (Habitrol� and Prostep�).

Other ways to quit include hypnosis, acupuncture, delaying the first cigarette of the day, cutting down, and quitting cold turkey.

Need help?

Talk with your health care provider about your best treatment options. You can also check with your insurance provider about quitting programs that may be available to you.

To find out about smoking cessation programs in Minnesota, call Allina Class Registration at 1-800-877-7878.

Another good option is calling the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. A representative will advise you on ways to quit and help you find quit-smoking programs in your area.