Common Myths About Tobacco  

FACT: Any amount of smoking has negative health effects.

Your lungs, blood vessels and cells are immediately affected when you smoke. Even smoking only a few cigarettes a week can lead to a heart attack and other health concerns. Breathing secondhand smoke is also harmful to your body and anyone nearby. The only way to protect yourself from the health risks of smoking is to stop altogether.

FACT: Stopping tobacco use at any time has health benefits.

The longer you use tobacco products, the more damage your body experiences. Quitting smoking has immediate positive effects on your health, including improved heart and lung function. Within a couple years, your risk of a heart attack decreases and over time, cancer and stroke risk is reduced as well. Learn more.

FACT: There is no safe amount of secondhand smoke exposure, especially for children.

When inhaled, tobacco smoke immediately changes your body’s blood chemistry. This can cause blood clots to form that block arteries to your heart or brain. More than 41,000 people die each year from secondhand smoke exposure. For children, breathing in tobacco smoke causes an increased risk of developing bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections. Learn more.

FACT: Opening a window, whether in a home or car, does not protect those around you from secondhand smoke.

An open window does not get rid of secondhand smoke within your home or car. Smoke can still linger in a room for hours. The best way to prevent secondhand smoke exposure is to quit smoking and ensure your environment is 100% smoke-free.

FACT: The FDA has not established e-cigarettes as safer than other tobacco products.

Using e-cigarettes can damage your lungs and weaken your immune system. These devices often contain harmful chemicals that cause cancer and severe lung disease. Most also contain high amounts of nicotine, an addictive substance that can increase your likelihood of using other tobacco products and make it harder to quit. Learn more.

FACT: Products labeled as “tobacco-free” still contain nicotine, which is an addictive chemical.

The nicotine in “tobacco-free” products is just as addictive as nicotine found in traditional cigarettes. Though they do not contain tobacco, “tobacco-free” products are not safer than other types of tobacco. In fact, they are still deemed tobacco products by the FDA and are regulated as such. Examples of “tobacco-free” products include nicotine pouches and some e-cigarettes.

FACT: Using tobacco products is likely to cause nicotine addiction, which can make quitting hard.

Stopping tobacco use is often difficult and can take several attempts. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that changes how your brain works. As a result, you may experience symptoms of withdrawal when trying to quit. Several quit smoking medicines are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help ease your body off of nicotine.

FACT: Smoking is a costly habit, so quitting can actually help you save money on the actual purchase of cigarettes and the cost associated with subsequent health concerns

People who smoke can spend thousands every year on smoking-related expenses. Besides the direct cost of tobacco products, smoking can lead to lost income and increased healthcare spending. Check out this calculator to see how much money you could save by quitting smoking!

FACT: Smoking is harmful to your body, regardless of your exercise and eating habits.

No amount of healthy eating, physical activity or sleep can reduce the harm smoking causes your body. In addition, smoking negatively affects each of these behaviors. Smoking can reduce sleep quality and workout performance. Tobacco also inhibits your sense of taste, making it more difficult to enjoy nutritious meals.