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Smoking Damages and Quitting Smoking

20 November 2025
Smoking Addiction Questionnaire

Even among older individuals, quitting smoking substantially decreases the likelihood of developing various diseases. It is never too late to stop smoking! From the moment you stop smoking, you will experience health benefits both in the short term and in the long term.

It is easier to quit smoking when one undergoes preliminary preparation, receives professional help, and undergoes medication treatment.

The HMOs around the country conduct smoking cessation programs, and the Ministry of Health provides a telephone counselling program led by certified cessation experts and professionals in the field.

Smoking damages in older adults

Cigarette smoke causes health damages and increases the risk of getting cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, etc. Cigarette smoke contains some 700 different substances, 350 of which are dangerous, and 70 are defined as human carcinogens.

Even at the age of 60 and over, smoking cessation considerably reduces the mortality risk caused by cardiovascular diseases compared to people who carry on smoking.

It is never too late to quit smoking! From the moment you quit smoking, you will gain health benefits in the short and long term.

In the short term

  • Approximately 48 hours after your last cigarette, nicotine is no longer detectable in your body.
  • In just a few days, your smell and taste senses will start improving.
  • In a few weeks, the blood flow in your body improves.

In the long term

  • After a few months without smoking, the lung function improves, and coughing and shortness of breath symptoms are reduced.
  • One year after smoking cessation, the risk of heart attack is reduced by half.
  • After five years, the risk of getting a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) in ex-smokers becomes similar to that in people who have never smoked.
  • Ten years without smoking reduces the risk of getting lung cancer.

How to quit smoking

It is easier to quit smoking after prior preparation, with the aid of professional support and medication.

The Ministry of Health and HMOs offer free smoking cessation programs.

The Ministry of Health Call Center for Smoking Cessation

The Ministry of Health offers a counseling program for smoking cessation under the direction of smoking cessation consultants. No referral from a HMO is needed. The program includes:

  • Six telephone counseling meetings, once a week.
  • Eligibility for an 85% discount on smoking cessation medications and nicotine substitutes, with the coordination and support of your family physician.
  • No need for an HMO referral.

Call *6800 to contact the Ministry of Health Call Center for Smoking Cessation.

Call center service hours: Sunday to Thursday between 08:00 and 20:00.
The service is available in Hebrew, Arabic, English, and Russian.

Smoking cessation workshops in the HMOs

The HMOs offer group workshops for smoking cessation throughout the country:

  • Each workshop is designed for 15 participants, under the direction of expert smoking cessation consultants.
  • The workshop meets once a week for eight weeks; each meeting lasts for an hour and a half.
  • During the workshop, you will learn about your personal smoking habits and, consequently, how to transform your old habits and adopt new ones.

Additional services for smoking cessation in the HMOs

  • Eligibility for an 85% discount on smoking cessation. medications and nicotine substitutes, with the coordination and support of your family physician.
  • A variety of smoking cessation programs are available: personal counseling, telephone counseling, and personal accompaniment by your family physician.

HMO Inquiries