If tobacco use is the most common preventable cause of death, why don’t more people quit? Probably because quitting isn’t easy. Smokers worry about the potential effects if giving up cigarettes, such as weight gain, irritability and anxiety. While those are real concerns, quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health. Quit and you lower your risk for cancer, heart attacks, strokes, early death, cataracts, and skin wrinkling. The results of quitting are pretty amazing, and they start soon after you stop smoking. You’ll notice your circulation begin to improve. You’ll be able to smell and taste much better than before. You won’t cough as much and you’ll breathe easier. You’ll have more energy and better focus. Plus, your teeth will be whiter, your breath fresher.

Living a longer, healthier life certainly seems worth the potential short-term consequences of quitting (the weight gain and irritability, etc.). But the reality is that you don’t have to experience those or other typical symptoms. Michael F. Roizen, MD, chief wellness officer of the Cleveland Clinic and coauthor (with Mehmet Oz, MD) of the YOU books series, uses a treatment system that short-circuits cravings and other quitters’ dilemmas. In fact, his methodology has one of the highest success rates around.