Smoking Cessation Programs

About 46 million adult Americans do smoke cigarettes, but most smokers are either actively trying to end or stop. Since 1965, more than 49 percent of all adults who have ever smoked have quit.
After the 2004 Surgeon General's Report, The health consequences of smoking, can eliminate smoking reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease and other forms of cardiovascular disease. Smoking cessation is important, for in the medical management of many contributors heart attack. These include atherosclerosis (fatty buildups in the arteries), thrombosis (blood clots), coronary spasm and cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). Smoking cessation can also help manage a variety of other diseases, especially atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease (fatty buildups in peripheral arteries) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

After the 2004 Surgeon General's Report, smoking remains the No. 1 cause of preventable illness and deaths in the United States.

About 23 percent of adult men and 19 percent of adult women smoke. This figure is down significantly from 42 percent in 1965. Changes in smoking behavior in the late 1960s, the 1970s and 1980s, most likely the decline in cardiovascular deaths, which occurred at the same time helped in the United States.