6 myths about quitting smoking that could be keeping you sick

Myth: you’ll gain a lot of weight when you quit

Myth: when you smoke, you’re only hurting yourself

Myth: There are safe smoking alternatives to cigarettes

Myth: you’ll lose your social circle when you quit

1 of 7

You probably know that smoking has countless negative effects on your health, from discolored teeth to heart disease and stroke, to the development of cancers. But even knowing all that, quitting can be extremely difficult. It doesn’t help that there are lots of common misconceptions about quitting smoking that may get in the way of successfully dropping the habit.

According to 2021 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 11.5 percent of adults in the United States smoked cigarettes and 4.5 percent used electronic cigarettes. If you’re part of that group, it’s time to kick the habit. Not sure where to begin? Start by forgetting these common myths about smoking cessation.

Sources: Ali FRM, Seaman EL, Schillo B, et al. Tr... + 12

Ali FRM, Seaman EL, Schillo B, et al. Trends in Annual Sales and Pack Price of Cigarettes in the US, 2015-2021. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Jun 1;5(6):e2215407.
American Cancer Society. Health Risks of Smokeless Tobacco. Page last updated October 28, 2020.
Carter, Rebekah. “A Guide to Cigarette Prices by State in 2023.” Moneyzine. October 17, 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Electronic Cigarettes (E-Cigarettes). Page last reviewed November 2, 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cigarette Smoking in the U.S. Page last reviewed May 4, 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Economic Trends in Tobacco. Page last reviewed July 26, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Problems Caused by Secondhand Smoke. Page last reviewed November 1, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking Cessation: Fast Facts. Page last reviewed March 21, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tips For Quitting. Page last reviewed September 12, 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why Quitting Smoking Is Hard. Page last reviewed September 12, 2023.
Hasegawa K, Komiyama M, Takahashi Y. Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk After Quitting Smoking: The Latest Evidence. Eur Cardiol. 2019 Apr;14(1):60-61.
McCann, Adam. “The Real Cost of Smoking by State (2024).” WalletHub. January 10, 2024.
U.S. National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus. Weight gain after quitting smoking: What to do. Page last reviewed August 15, 2022.

6 myths about quitting smoking that could be keeping you sick

Don't let these misconceptions keep you from dropping the habit.

Recommended for you