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Myth:
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Quitting is easy!
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Fact:
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It is very difficult for most smokers to quit. Cigarettes are designed to deliver nicotine, the addictive substance in cigarettes, very quickly to the brain where it makes your body physically dependant on it. Smokers also get used to the effects of nicotine over time. That means you may no longer get pleasure from smoking and only smoke to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
In addition to physical dependence, the behaviour of smoking becomes a habit over time. The longer you smoke, the more your daily activities and moods become linked to your smoking habit and the harder it may be to give it up. Quitting smoking isn't easy but it is possible and there are resources to help you. |
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Myth:
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Quitting is impossible! |
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Fact:
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Quitting smoking is an individual experience. Some people manage to quit on their first attempt. Others make several attempts before they quit for life. Many factors affect how easy or difficult quitting smoking is likely to be - how long you've been smoking, how much you smoke, how dependant you are on nicotine - play a role. Recent research into nicotine dependence suggests that genes may play some role in the process of becoming dependent on nicotine. Knowing more about this may lead to the development of more effective drugs to assist smokers to stop smoking. In the meantime, keep trying to quit. |
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Myth:
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When I quit I will gain at least 20 pounds and that's just as harmful to my health.
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Fact:
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On average people gain between 5 and 7 pounds when they quit smoking and the weight gain is most often temporary. Exercise and drinking water can help with your cravings and keep the weight gain down. Try going for a walk when you have the urge to smoke. Click on the link for more information on quitting and weight gain (PDF file size 40KB). |
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Myth:
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Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT) like the patch, gum, & inhaler aren't safe. |
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Fact:
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Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT) like the patch, gum, & inhaler are safe and can be very effective in helping with withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Some people think using NRT makes them weak and they should only try quitting "cold turkey". The reality is the addiction to nicotine is hard to break and using NRT can double your chances of success. It's important to use any NRT product the way it's intended to be used. That means reading the instructions and following them. No tool will do the job it's intended to do if it's not used correctly. And remember that nicotine is NOT one of the cancer causing chemicals found in cigarettes. As with any medication, it's important to consult with your doctor and/or your pharmacist before using it. For more info on NRT, click on the following links.
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Myth:
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Light cigarettes aren't as harmful.
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Fact:
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The filters on light cigarettes change how you smoke. Smokers of light cigarettes will drag deeper and more often in order to get the same amount of nicotine as with regular cigarettes. Remember light cigarettes also have the same amount of toxic chemicals as regular cigarettes. |
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Myth:
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Smoking only hurts me.
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Fact:
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Second-hand smoke is harmful to your friends, family, and pets. It contains more ammonia, benzene, carbon monoxide, nicotine and cancer causing chemicals than smoke inhaled by the smoker. Second-hand smoke is also the third major preventable cause of death in Ontario. If you are not ready to quit right now why not take you smoking outside. Find out more about protecting your loved ones from second hand smoke. |
