Myths about Smoking

There are a few commonly held beliefs about smoking that can sometimes get in the way of trying to quit.  The good news is that these are largely untrue and need not feature on your list of reasons to keep smoking!

Myth 1 -This is going to be a long painful process before I see any benefits

Did you know that when you quit smoking, the benefits begin within 20 minutes of your last cigarette?
After…
you stub out your last cigarette
 
 
8 hours
 
 
24 hours
 
48 hours
 
 
2 weeks to 3 months
 
 
1 year
 
10 years
 
15 years
 
 
Blood pressure decreases, pulse rate drops and temperature of hands and feet increases
 
Carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal and oxygen level in blood increases to normal
 
Chance of a heart attack decreases
 
Nerve endings begin regrowth and your ability to smell and taste improves
 
Circulation improves, walking becomes easier, lung function increases
 
Risk of a heart attack is halved
 
Risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker
 
Heart attack risk falls to the same level as someone who has never smoked

 

 
Myth 2 - Smoking reduces stress
Many people believe that smoking helps relieve stress and induces relaxation, and is a key reason given by many for their smoking habit. In reality smoking creates a stress response! Research has shown that nicotine and the other chemicals in cigarettes causes a significant and immediate release of cortisol (stress hormone) into the blood stream along with an increase in blood pressure and pulse rate – the complete opposite of a relaxed state!
If we take the example of someone experiencing a stressful situation at work, they take a break, go outside for a cigarette and instantly feel calmer. When we look at what has actually happened, they have removed themselves from the situation that was creating or maintaining the feelings of stress, gone outside to a change of scenery that includes daylight and fresh air, potentially become more physically active by going from sitting to walking and standing and then taken several deep breaths (even though that includes inhaling cigarette smoke) – and it’s the cigarette that gets the credit for relieving the stress and creating better feelings! If you were to take similar actions when under pressure, without the cigarette, it’s likely that there would be a similar effect in terms of breaking the stressed state.
 
Myth 3 - Giving up smoking means putting on weight
You will gain weight if your strategy for dealing with cravings is to eat instead! When you plan and are well prepared to stop smoking, replacing the smoking habit with a new unhelpful habit can be avoided.
When you smoke, the nicotine in cigarettes increases your metabolic rate and so it does slow when you quit smoking, but it only lowers to a normal rate from an elevated rate. The difference is around 200 calories a day; that is your body, when at rest, will burn 200 calories a day less when you stop smoking. That really is not going to lead to obesity overnight. It’s easier than you might think to cut out 200 calories – it’s a chocolate bar or a bag of crisps. Taking the option of burning more calories through activity is an even better option because of the additional health benefits that result from becoming more active, as well as the feeling of replacing smoking with something positive. A daily brisk walk of around 45 minutes or gardening for 40 minutes can really burn off extra calories. Even having a dance around the living room to music you really enjoy will not only burn calories but will give a huge boost to your mood!

So, giving up smoking does not automatically lead to weight gain. A large study in the UK seems to confirm this, where no clear pattern emerged from over a thousand women who quit smoking. Some women gained weight, others experienced no change and others actually lost weight.
All this is great news; it means whether you put on weight or not when you stop smoking is within your control.
 
Are you ready to stop smoking completely and for good? Click here to find out about my stop smoking programme that helps you prepare in advance for a greater chance of success. 
  

Stop Smoking with Hypnotherapy, Milton Keynes