Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps you can take to improve your health. This is true no matter how old you are or how long you have smoked. The good news is there are proven treatments that can help you quit.

Quitting is hard, but quitting can be a bit easier if you have a plan. When you think you're ready to quit, here are a few simple steps you can take to put your plan into action.

Getting support from the important people in your life can make a big difference when you quit tobacco. Friends, family, coworkers, and others can be there for you. You are not alone.

Stress is a normal part of life—in moderation it can help you reach your goals, but too much stress creates more problems. Managing stress is a key part of quitting smoking.

People who smoke take in the chemical nicotine from tobacco. Each time you use tobacco, nicotine triggers the brain's reward system. People become addicted to that trigger. But people who smoke also can get used to the habit of smoking, not just the nicotine.

Want to stop smoking? Many quit-smoking products that are approved by government health agencies can help you stop for good.

Chewing tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products often are promoted as safer than cigarettes. That's because they aren't linked to lung cancer. But these products are not harmless.

E-cigarettes usually contain nicotine and may have other harmful substances too. There's a lot of conflicting information about them. There's still a lot to learn, but here's what is currently known.

In many people, nicotine from cigarettes stimulates receptors in the brain to release dopamine, triggering a pleasure response. Over time, the number of nicotine receptors increases and changes your brain's anatomy.