Key Takeaways
- Quitting smoking, even for one day during the Great American Smokeout on November 19, 2026, gives your lungs and airways a break from smoke.
- Tobacco smoke irritates and swells the airways, which can lead to more frequent and more severe asthma attacks.
- Secondhand smoke can trigger asthma symptoms in people who do not smoke, including children.
- Your body starts to recover within minutes of your last cigarette, and coughing and shortness of breath ease over the following months.
- Free quit-smoking help is available to every Floridian, and a primary care team can fit your quit plan into your asthma care.
- Comprehensive Health Center is a trusted primary care practice in Miami and Orlando that helps patients manage asthma and work toward a smoke-free life, so request an appointment with Comprehensive Health Center online today.
What Is the Great American Smokeout?
The Great American Smokeout is a nationwide event hosted by the American Cancer Society (ACS) on the third Thursday of November. In 2026, it falls on Thursday, November 19.
The idea is simple. People who smoke are invited to quit for the day, or to use the day to make a real plan to quit. You do not have to be perfect. One smoke-free day is practice, and it can be the start of something bigger.
For people with asthma, the Smokeout is an especially good reason to try. Smoking and asthma are a hard combination on the lungs, and quitting is one of the most helpful things you can do for your breathing.
How Does Smoking Affect Asthma?
Asthma is a long-term condition that makes the airways in your lungs narrow, swell, and fill with mucus (a thick, sticky fluid). Smoke makes all of this harder to control.
According to the Allergy & Asthma Network's guide to smoking and asthma, tobacco smoke irritates and inflames the airways. This can lead to:
- More asthma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
- More frequent and more severe asthma attacks.
- Weaker lung function over time, which makes asthma harder to manage.
The same guide notes that, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 21 percent of people with asthma smoke cigarettes. If you are one of them, you are not alone, and help is available.
Secondhand Smoke and Asthma
You do not have to be the one smoking for smoke to affect your asthma. Secondhand smoke is the smoke you breathe in when someone near you is smoking. Even short periods of exposure can bring on asthma symptoms and attacks.
Children are especially sensitive to secondhand smoke. Keeping your home and car smoke-free protects everyone who rides or lives with you, including family members with asthma.
What Happens to Your Lungs After You Quit Smoking?
Your body starts to heal soon after your last cigarette. The ACS outlines how this recovery unfolds in its timeline of the health benefits of quitting smoking.
| Time After Your Last Cigarette | What Changes in Your Body |
|---|---|
| A few minutes | Your heart rate drops. |
| 24 hours to a few days | Nicotine levels in your blood drop to zero. Carbon monoxide (a harmful gas found in smoke) drops to a normal level. |
| 1 to 12 months | Coughing and shortness of breath decrease. |
| 1 to 2 years | Your risk of heart attack drops sharply. |
| 10 years | Your risk of lung cancer is about half that of a person who still smokes. |
The ACS also notes that quitting lowers your risk of lung infections. You may notice everyday changes, too. Food tastes better, your sense of smell returns, and simple tasks like climbing stairs may leave you less out of breath.
Free Resources to Help You Quit Smoking in Florida
Quitting is easier with support. These free resources are a good place to start:
- Tobacco Free Florida: The state program offers free coaching by phone, text, and chat, available 24 hours a day. Through its Tobacco Free Florida Quit Your Way program, you may be eligible for a free 4-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as patches, gum, or lozenges. Call 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (1-877-822-6669) to sign up.
- The ACS helpline: The ACS offers free tips and tools for quitting. Call 1-800-227-2345 any time of day.
- Your primary care doctor:Your doctor knows your health history and your asthma, which makes them a strong partner in your quit plan.
How a Primary Care Team Supports Your Plan to Quit?
Quitting smoking works best when it is part of your overall health care, not separate from it. At Comprehensive Health Center, primary care services for the whole family include ongoing management of long-term conditions like asthma. That means your care team can look at your asthma and your smoking together.
During a visit, your primary care team can:
- Review how well your asthma is controlled right now.
- Talk through quit-smoking options and whether medicine might help you.
- Update your asthma action plan (a written plan that tells you what to do when symptoms change).
- Schedule follow-up visits to check your progress and adjust your plan.
Comprehensive Health Center also offers an in-house pharmacy at Comprehensive Health Center, so filling prescriptions can happen in the same place as your visit. The team speaks English, Spanish, and Haitian Kreyol, so you can talk about your goals in the language you are most comfortable with.
Make This Great American Smokeout Your Quit Day With Comprehensive Health Center
Smoking makes asthma harder to control, and quitting helps your lungs begin to heal within days. Comprehensive Health Center can help you build a quit plan that works with your asthma care, not against it.
Ready to breathe easier? Request a primary care appointment at Comprehensive Health Center online to talk with a provider in Miami or Orlando about quitting smoking and managing your asthma.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Great American Smokeout in 2026?
The Great American Smokeout takes place on the third Thursday of November. In 2026, that date is Thursday, November 19. You can use the day to quit or to start planning your quit date.
How does smoking affect asthma?
Smoke irritates and swells the airways. This can lead to more coughing and wheezing, more frequent and severe asthma attacks, and weaker lung function over time.
Can quitting smoking help my asthma?
Yes. Quitting removes one of the most common asthma triggers. According to the ACS, coughing and shortness of breath decrease within 1 to 12 months of quitting, and your risk of lung infections goes down.
Is there an asthma doctor in Miami who can help me quit smoking?
A primary care doctor can help you manage asthma and quit smoking at the same time. Comprehensive Health Center makes it easy to see a primary care doctor in Miami or Orlando, with a team that speaks English, Spanish, and Haitian Kreyol.
Does secondhand smoke make asthma worse?
Yes. Breathing in someone else's smoke, even for a short time, can bring on asthma symptoms and attacks. Keeping your home and car smoke-free helps protect people with asthma, especially children.
