5 myths about quitting smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the most important, and difficult, decisions a person can make for their health. In this article, we talk about the most common myths surrounding giving up tobacco, its negative effects on our health and what to do to quit for good. Read on!

Quitting smoking: most common myths

Myth 1 “Quitting smoking inevitably makes you gain weight”

Although some people may gain a little weight when they quit smoking, this is not due to the cigarette itself, but to changes in routine and metabolism. Here is why:

• Taste and smell recover, which makes food more appealing.
• Some people replace cigarettes with snacks or sweets.
• Metabolism may slow down slightly during the first few weeks.

Bringing healthy habits into your life, such as a balanced diet, physical exercise and drinking plenty of water, can help you lose those extra kilos gained after quitting smoking.

Myth 2 “After so many years of smoking, it is no longer worth quitting”

Did you know...? The benefits of quitting smoking begin within the first 24 hours. In just 20 minutes, blood pressure and pulse return to normal. After 12 hours, the level of carbon monoxide in the blood begins to fall. Circulation and lung function improve in just 3 months and after 12 months, the risk of coronary heart disease is halved.

That is why it is never too late to quit smoking. It will improve your quality of life and increase your breathing capacity and life expectancy.

Quitting smoking is always worthwhile, regardless of your age or how many years you have smoked.

Myth 3 “Smoking a little does no harm”

Some people believe that smoking “just a couple of cigarettes a day” or “only at weekends” does not pose a real risk. But this is one of the most dangerous myths about tobacco.

Fmoking 1 to 4 cigarettes a day can increase the risk not only of cardiovascular disease, but also other types of tobacco-related cancer, such as lung cancer.

What is more, in case you did not know, the body develops nicotine dependence even with just a couple of cigarettes a day, which makes it harder to control the amount over time.

Myth 4 “Electronic cigarettes are a safe alternative”

With the arrival of vapes or electronic cigarettes, another of the great myths about quitting smoking has emerged: replacing cigarettes with one of these options as an "alternative" or a "first step" towards quitting smoking.

Although they may seem less harmful than traditional cigarettes, many liquids contain nicotine and other irritating or toxic substances, such as propylene glycol or carbonyl compounds.

In addition, there is no conclusive scientific evidence showing that vaping safely helps people quit smoking in the short or long term. In some cases, people end up combining both habits, which increases exposure to harmful substances.

Myth 5 “Quitting smoking causes more stress”

Many people claim that smoking a cigarette helps them relax, and therefore believe that quitting will increase their anxiety or stress.

In reality, the feeling of calm produced by tobacco is a temporary illusion. What happens is that, when smoking, it relieves the withdrawal syndrome caused by the lack of nicotine between cigarettes. So yes, tobacco itself causes the anxiety that it then “relieves”.

The myths about quitting smoking and the myths about tobacco have fuelled false beliefs for years, making it harder to make healthy decisions. But the reality is clear: quitting tobacco is always possible and has multiple health benefits.

Treatments that help you quit smoking

On the Farmaciadirect website, you will find stop smoking medicines, available without a prescription and formulated in different formats, such as chewing gum, patches, mouth sprays or lozenges, with a low percentage of nicotine, which will help you give up tobacco, such as those from Nicotinell.

How do they work? They gradually release nicotine, relieving withdrawal symptoms and reducing the anxiety caused by smoking.