Anesthesiologists Care About Your Health
If you smoke, anesthesiologists recommend that you stop smoking before surgery and stay off cigarettes until at least one week after surgery. This can be tough to do, but the following tools are designed to help you succeed.
Here’s a quick look at the role anesthesiologists play in the surgical procedure and why ASA is focused on getting you to kick the habit prior to surgery.
Anesthesiologists care about your long term health. We are the operating room heart and lung specialists and are responsible for your well being during surgery. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to recover from surgery without complications. There is no better time to quick smoking than before surgery.
We Bet You Have Thought About It
We know it is tough to quit. Nicotine is a very addictive drug. It takes most people several attempts to eventually drop the habit, but you are in good company. There are more ex-smokers than smokers in the United States today. Often a life event triggers an attempt to quit. Surgery is a life event where being smoke free could have a direct impact on how you come through the experience.
So Why Should I Quit?
You have likely heard about the risks connected to smoking, but have you heard about the benefits of quitting? These perks include:
- Adding six to eight years to your life
- Reducing your lung cancer and heart disease risk
- Saving an averaging of $1,400 each year
- Reducing exposing others to smoke
- Quitting decreases risk of complications from surgery
- Surgery is a great time to quit for good
How Smoking Affects Anesthesia and Surgery
Smokers have an increased chance of complications during and after surgery. Complications can include: healing problems including wound infections; lung problems including pneumonia; and heart problems including heart attacks.
Quitting before surgery can decrease your risks. The earlier you quit, the better your chances of no complications. It is especially important not to smoke the day of surgery. Patients should stay off cigarettes for as long as possible after surgery. Remember, hospitals are smoke free and most people are free of cigarette cravings around the time of surgery anyway. Hopefully, surgery motivates you to make permanent healthy lifestyle changes.
Other Helpful Information from the the American Society of Anesthesiologists:
>> An Important Q and A on Quitting Smoking and Surgery
>> Patient Story: Susie Quits Smoking for Her Surgery
There’s Other Support Available Too
1-800-QUIT-NOW is a confidential, free service that is designed to help those who want to quit smoking. A “quit coach” works with you to develop a personalized plan and provide information and resources. Medications may be available at no charge
>> Smokefree.gov
>> American Lung Association
>> Quit Smoking Information from the Office of the Surgeon General
Download Our Stop Smoking Brochure below:
