Don't be fooled by myths. Delaying smoking cessation means increasing the body's risk of developing serious diseases.
Many people do not stop smoking because they hold on to assumptions that are not necessarily true. Here are some myths that you may believe too.
Myth 1: Quit smoking can make the body sick.
Fact: People who are used to smoking large amounts of cigarettes over a long period of time are generally addicted to nicotine. This causes smokers who quit smoking will experience certain conditions such as headaches, coughs, constipation, anxiety, or fatigue. This condition is a common situation and will improve in a matter of weeks. So these symptoms are not disease, but nicotine withdrawal symptoms that will improve over time.
Myth 2: I've smoked so long that it's too late to repair the damage that's been done.
Fact: It's never too late to quit smoking. Damage to the health of organs due to smoking is cumulative. The longer a person smokes, the bad effects will be higher. Based on research, a person's risk for experiencing poor health due to smoking can be reduced by up to 90 percent if he stops smoking before the age of 35 years. In just a month, the breathing process will feel more maximal. In addition, a smoker who has stopped smoking for a year can reduce his risk of having a heart attack by up to 50 percent.
Myth 3: The risk of smoking will be reduced by switching to cigarette products labeled "mild" or "light".
Fact: Each cigarette manufacturer has different standards regarding levels that can be called high and low. A smoker who switches to a product that claims to contain low tar and nicotine will feel that he has reduced the harm of smoking. Without realizing it, smokers with nicotine addiction will automatically increase the number of cigarettes they smoke in a day and inhale each cigarette deeper to get a certain level of effect or satisfaction. Therefore, any type of cigarette will have the same bad impact.
Myth 4: I've made a habit-habitmenyhealthyright otherhis which can reduce the consequences from smoke.
Fact: Smoking can damage internal organs. You can't try to reduce the damage by adopting a healthy lifestyle such as regular exercise and eating nutritious foods.
Myth 5: Smoking won't harm anyoneanything other than self the smoker.
Fact: People who do not smoke, but are exposed to secondhand smoke or called passive smokers, have a 30 percent higher risk of developing cancer than those who are not exposed to secondhand smoke. In addition, passive smokers are also at risk for ischemic heart disease caused by exposure to cigarette smoke.
Myth 6: Trying to quit smoking is stressful, which is bad for your health as well.
Fact: Quitting smoking at first does make perpetrators feel stressed. But this perceived stress is generally short-lived and has no long-term impact on smokers who are trying to quit. But over time people who quit smoking will also start exercising and eating healthier so they will feel better about themselves.
Myth 7: Smoking makes you gain weight and it's not healthy.
Fact: Nicotine in cigarettes can increase the burning of calories in the body and increase the speed of the body's metabolism, thus making you lose weight. In fact, people who quit smoking have the potential to gain weight. This increase can occur because when someone stops smoking, the body's metabolism returns to normal. This change is a healthy thing because the body is no longer forced to work excessively.
Myth 8: I've failed to quit smoking before. Now it's useless to me try.
Fact: Many smokers finally manage to quit smoking after repeated attempts. Each time you fail, you learn from your mistakes and try other tactics, moving you closer to success.
Myth 9: Quitting smoking will make me lose friends.
Fact: Many smokers are reluctant to quit for fear of losing other friends who also smoke. But in reality not all smoking friends will behave like that. On the other hand, if you explain your reasons for quitting, your friends can support and even encourage you to try to quit with you.
Missing out on smoking with fellow smokers at first can make you feel lonely. But by quitting smoking you also get the opportunity to make new friends. You can do things that were previously difficult to do, like swim or cycle long distances, without gasping for air. You can find friends in the new area who are healthier and support your new lifestyle.
Myth 10: If I quit smoking, I won't be creative anymore.
Fact: Many people can work without smoking. Difficulties in being creative can arise from stress or the symptoms felt in the early days of quitting smoking. Remember that this condition is only temporary. The benefits of quitting smoking are much greater and longer lasting than stress or temporary symptoms. You can also distract yourself with other equally creative activities like having a discussion, going for a walk, or watching a movie.
