Preconceived ideas about tobacco die hard! Smoke is harmful, puffs are less harmful… It’s not easy to sort out what’s true from what’s not! Find out the truth about smoking in this article, where we debunk preconceived ideas.
What are the health risks of smoking?
Before debunking preconceived ideas about smoking, let’s find out about the real risks to your health. In Switzerland, smoking causes around 9,500 deaths every year, or 26 people a day. Tobacco accounts for almost 14% of deaths in the country and reduces life expectancy by an average of 10 years. Tobacco is often the cause of diseases such as lung, throat, mouth and lip cancer, as well as COPD or ‘smoker’s bronchitis’. It can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. But don’t panic, by taking steps to stop, you can significantly reduce these risks and improve your quality of life. In one month without smoking, for example, you can halve your risk of heart attack! That’s why we’ve put together 7 tips to help you stop smoking.
1. I don’t smoke much, so it’s not so bad for my health
If you’re a light smoker or only smoke in the evening, you may think that you don’t smoke enough to feel the negative effects of smoke. Unfortunately, this preconceived idea about smoking is wrong. There is no minimum threshold below which smoking becomes risk-free. Even if you don’t smoke much, the risk of cardiovascular disease such as stroke or heart attack increases. It is estimated that a light smoker has a 1.5 times higher mortality rate than a non-smoker. And even if you don’t smoke much, cigarettes can turn your teeth yellow!
2. I smoke light cigarettes to limit the effect of tobacco on my health
While it may seem like a good idea, smoking light cigarettes isn’t particularly good for your health. As we’ve seen, even if you don’t smoke much, you’re still exposing yourself to the risks of smoking. What’s more, people who smoke light cigarettes often tend to inhale more deeply. You risk taking bigger puffs, or even smoking more to compensate for the reduced nicotine content of these cigarettes.
3. I smoke puffs to avoid the effects of smoking on my health
It may seem like a good idea, but puffs and other electronic cigarettes are not the solution for looking after your health. For one thing, puffs often contain more harmful substances than indicated. What’s more, the habit of smoking remains if you vapourise. However, as the nicotine level is controllable, you can gently reduce the dose. But don’t forget that nicotine is not the most dangerous substance in cigarettes! Although studies seem to indicate that electronic cigarettes are less harmful, they are by no means harmless!
4. I smoke to de-stress
This preconceived idea about smoking is both true and false. Stress often comes from the temporary relief of withdrawal symptoms. So yes, smoking will de-stress you, but in itself, if you didn’t smoke, you wouldn’t have this craving and therefore no stress linked to craving.
5. Tobacco chewing gum is just as dangerous
False, as already mentioned, nicotine, although toxic in high doses, is above all addictive. Among other things, it makes you want to smoke. However, the most dangerous thing about cigarettes is all the components that make them up, which are burnt when you smoke. Thanks to chewing gum, you can get rid of cigarettes. It is estimated that you are twice as likely to give up cigarettes thanks to chewing gum. But cigarette addiction isn’t just about nicotine, it’s also a habit (having a cigarette in your hand, taking breaks at certain times of the day) that isn’t always easy to break!
6. Quitting smoking will make me put on weight!
This is a common misconception about smoking that has a hard skin! But it’s not true, at least in part! In reality, nicotine has the effect of reducing appetite and increasing calorie expenditure. However, giving up smoking does not necessarily mean putting on weight. In fact, a third of ex-smokers do not gain weight. If you’re worried about putting on weight, it may be worth consulting a nutritionist to find a suitable diet. Weight gain after you’ve stopped smoking is often linked to compensation mechanisms and the fact that you’ll rediscover the taste of food and the pleasure of eating.
