@mfv- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Congratulations on your desire to quit smoking. It's a big step towards being healthier you for sure. The reason that I stopped smoking almost 24 years ago was lung cancer. I had been coughing up specks of blood and had a horrible cough. At the time I knew that I had to quit and was more worried about that than cancer.

When you stop smoking you will immediately begin to feel better. Your breath will clear itself of smoker's breath, your nails will whiten and your clothes will be fresher after you wash them. I loved all of those things but the withdrawal was a tough one. I used a patch for about a week and then went cold turkey. Cold turkey is the quickest way to stop smoking. Depending on your strength of character, determination and physical make-up will also determine how successful you will be. I was a very heavy smoker, two packs a day for 35 years. But I did it. If I did it, you can!

Why have you chosen this time to quit?