Helping Your Patients Stop Smoking

Quitting tobacco use presents various challenges for patients, and staying motivated can be difficult.

All health care providers, especially those with direct patient contact, have a unique opportunity to help tobacco users quit. Smokers cite a doctor's advice to quit as an important motivator for attempting to stop smoking.

Perhaps discussing the effects of tobacco use in the context of existing health conditions will help your patient(s) make the decision to quit.

Have your patients had any of these health issues in the past few years? Smoking is a risk factor that can exacerbate existing medical conditions or contribute to new health conditions.

• Respiratory ailments: wheezing, shortness of breath, frequent coughing, or heavy chest colds
• Emphysema, chronic bronchitis, COPD, or asthma
• Tingling in hands and feet, poor circulation
• Cardiovascular issues: pain/tightness in the chest, heart disease or heart attack
• Difficulty sleeping or fatigue
• Vision problems such as cataracts
• High blood pressure
• Gastrointestinal issues such as stomach ulcers
• Diabetes complications
• Oral health issues such as sores, gum disease or persistent bad breath
• Osteoporosis or reduction in bone density

Medicare covers tobacco cessation counseling services. Consider making this part of the time spent with patient(s) who use tobacco products. For detailed information and helpful resources visit our Medicare Topic Tobacco Cessation.

Posted 1/14/2025