Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
Quitting smoking can dramatically improve your health and help you live longer. It lowers your risk of many different health problems.
Quitting is not easy for most people. It might take several tries to completely quit. But help and support are available. Quitting smoking will improve your health no matter how old you are, even if you have smoked for a long time.
As you stop smoking, it is normal to have "withdrawal" symptoms. These will get better over time. Withdrawal symptoms can include:
●Trouble concentrating
●Being irritable
●Feeling anxious or restless
●Mood changes
●Trouble sleeping
●Increased appetite
●Weight gain
Your doctor can give you medicines to help with these.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment to get help to quit smoking.
●Set a date to quit smoking.
●Tell your family and friends about your plan to quit smoking.
●Plan ahead about what you will do instead of smoking when you have cravings.
●Remove cigarettes from your home, car, and work.
●You might want to talk with a counselor to help you learn about:
•What triggers you to smoke
•How to resist cravings
•Things to raise your chance of quitting
Counseling can be in person alone or in a group, over the phone, through texting, or online.
●Talk with your regular doctor about medicines to help you stop smoking.
●Exercise regularly. This can help lower stress. Going for a walk is good exercise.
●Chew sugar-free candy or gum, if it helps you resist cravings.
●Stay away from people and places that make you want to smoke. If others close to you smoke, ask them to quit with you or to not smoke around you.
Sometimes, people wonder if vaping ("e-cigarettes") can help them quit smoking. In general, doctors do not recommend using vaping as a way to quit smoking. Even though it might be less harmful than smoking regular cigarettes, vaping still comes with risks. Talk to your doctor if you are having trouble quitting smoking, even with medicines and counseling.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if you have:
●Symptoms of depression, like:
•Feeling sad, down, hopeless, or cranky most of the day, almost every day
•Losing or gaining weight without trying to
•Sleeping too much or too little
•Feeling tired or like you have no energy
•Acting restless, or having trouble staying still
●New or worsening symptoms
Patient education: Quitting smoking for adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking for teens (The Basics)
Patient education: Harmful health effects of smoking (The Basics)
Patient education: Smoking in pregnancy (The Basics)
