Regardless of your age, length you’ve been smoking or gender – it’s a fact that quitting will improve your health. But when it comes to quitting there’s also a lot of misinformation so we take a look at some of the common myths to separate fact from fiction.
Myth: It’s too late to quit, the damage is done.
While the benefits of quitting are greater the earlier you stop, even quitting at 60 years of age will increase your life expectancy by 3 years compared to those who continue to smoke.
Many of health effects from smoking will actually reverse quite rapidly!
Myth: Nicotine is the major toxic ingredient in cigarettes
Nicotine is the addictive ingredient in cigarettes, but it is not the most toxic component. There are over 7,000 toxins and chemicals in tobacco, including tar and carbon monoxide and 70 known cancer-causing agents in tobacco smoke.
Myth: Smoking while using NRT is dangerous
Studies have found no significant side effects from using Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) while smoking. Most people who use NRT are using a cut-down approach to quitting smoking so they are inhaling less nicotine from cigarettes.
Myth: Smoking just a few cigarettes daily is fairly harmless
Smokers who smoke only 1-4 cigarettes a day still have a higher risk of having a heart attack or developing lung cancer compared to non-smokers. Their risk of other conditions including gastrointestinal cancers, lower-respiratory tract infections and reduced fertility is also increased.
Preparing to quit with support from your Phoenix Health Extras cover
Most Phoenix Health Extras covers include benefits for approved quit smoking programs. Reach out to our team via email at [email protected] or give us a call on 1800 028 817 to find out more and check your eligibility. If you’re thinking about quitting, check out our blog on Preparing to Quit Smoking.
