Many people continue to smoke despite the risks because they are bombarded with tons of myths about cigarettes. However, most of these claims have no scientific proofs. So before you get caught up with nicotine addiction, here are some of the most popular myths about smoking that you may want to be familiar of.
1. Smoking is a habit.
Smoking is more than a habit. It is an ADDICTION. Many people start to smoke not thinking about the possibility that they may get hooked to it. However, scientific study shows that nicotine is highly addictive. Actually, it’s the only addictive drug in the world that is freely distributed in the market, without doctor’s prescription!
2. There’s no point of stopping if you have been smoking all your life.
The health effects of smoking are cumulative. Meaning, the more you smoke, the higher the risk of being ill becomes. However, quitting smoking today can still save your life even if you’ve been smoking for many, many years now. The benefits of smoking can be experienced just hours after your last cigarette.
3. Switching to light cigarettes is safer.
Scientific studies that were made to compare traditional cigarettes with light cigarettes found that they have no difference when it comes to health effects. People who smoked light cigarettes were also at high risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
4. Smoking takes away anxiety.
A lot of people, particularly those who are in executive positions, smoke to cope with the pressure that their job brings. What they don’t know is that smoking aggravates their anxiety problems. Here’s the thing – smoking creates a sudden surge in the endorphin levels, giving the smoker an immediate sense of pleasure. But the elevation of mood happens so fast and goes away too fast as well, making a person crave for more cigarettes. And as he continues to smoke, the toxins in tobacco start to create unwanted changes in his brain structure.
5. Healthy habits make up for the negative effects of smoking.
Some smokers try to balance the harmful effects of smoking by engaging in healthy habits such as exercising and observing a balanced diet. However, research shows that healthy diet and physical exercise do not cut the health risks associated with cigarette smoking. This means that all your efforts to stay healthy are all wasted if you will continue to smoke. What’s worse is that the harmful compounds found in tobacco prevent the nutrients from being absorbed by the cells. In short, it’s useless.
It isn’t too late to quit
According to the American Cancer Society, smokers who quit before the age of 35 are able to free themselves from 90% of the health risks associated with smoking. Meanwhile, those who quit at the age of 50 reduce their chance of dying from health disease by 50%.
By busting these myths, you make it easy for yourself to quit smoking. There are plenty of treatments available for those who are trying to quit smoking. By talking to the right people, a smoke-free life is achievable.
