Preparing for surgery can feel overwhelming. If you smoke or use other nicotine products, being asked to quit may add even more stress during an already challenging time. Quitting isn’t easy, but it is the number one thing you can do to improve your health before surgery.
QuitNow is here to meet you where you are, with the information and tools to help you take steps toward quitting. Whether you are ready to quit, thinking about making a change, or working to stay quit, we provide personalized support and practical tools to help you quit or reduce tobacco and nicotine use before and after surgery.
Why quit smoking before surgery?
Quitting smoking before surgery can make your surgery safer and help you recover faster. There is evidence that the longer you quit before your surgery, the less complications you will have. Research shows that quitting for at least 4 weeks before surgery may reduce post-surgery problems by about 20%.1 If your surgery is sooner than 4 weeks away, it is still worth quitting. Quitting at any point before surgery can support oxygen levels, circulation, healing, and overall recovery.
Quitting can help to:
- Reduce the risk of complications during and after surgery, such as infections
- Speed up healing on your surgical wounds
- Lower your chance of lung or breathing problems
- Improve your recovery with better oxygen transport throughout the body
This can contribute to a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and better health outcomes!
How does smoking affect your body during surgery?
Surgery puts extra demands on your body that can be affected by smoking. A smooth operation and recovery depend on good oxygen supply, healthy blood flow, and a strong immune response. Smoking interferes with these processes as your body works to repair tissues and recover. Learn how smoking can affect key body systems during and after surgery.2
Smoking affects nearly every part of your body. This is why quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, both now and into the future.
QuitNow is here to support you before and after your surgery
Get personalized coaching support
Quitting can feel stressful while preparing for surgery. QuitNow is here to support you with friendly, one-on-one coaching to help you feel more confident and motivated to make a positive change for your health.
Our expert Quit Coaches provide personalized support tailored to your needs and goals. They can help you build a realistic quit plan, work through challenges as they come up, and find strategies to manage cravings, stress, and other triggers. Having dedicated support can make quitting feel more manageable as you prepare for surgery.
Recovery after surgery may bring new stressors, routines, and triggers. We can also continue to support you after surgery to help you stay quit and maintain the progress you’ve made. Our Quit Coaches can work with you to identify challenges, build healthy coping strategies, and a plan to prevent relapse to support your long-term recovery and health goals.
Join our online community
You are not alone in your journey to quit smoking before surgery. QuitNow connects you to an online community of Quit Coaches and others who are also working toward quitting or reducing.
Our community is here to support you through your journey, whether you are looking to hear others’ experiences, share tips and strategies, find encouragement during challenging moments, or celebrate milestones along the way.
Resources
These resources can help you learn more about quitting before surgery, anesthesia, and preparing your body for recovery.