Believing myths about smoking may lull you into thinking smoking isn't so bad. Get the facts so you can make good decisions about your health. Your life may depend on it.

Myth: Smoking is just a bad habit.

Fact: Smoking is more than a habit - it's an addiction. You're hooked on nicotine, a powerful drug. That's why quitting is so hard: you have to battle a physical addiction as well as break a habit.

Smoking is also a serious health threat. In addition to nicotine, tobacco smoke contains 4,000 chemicals, including cyanide, benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. More than 60 of those chemicals are known to cause cancer. Smoking also damages your lungs, heart, blood vessels and other organs. About half of people who continue to smoke will die from it.

Myth: Smoking won't hurt me because I don't inhale.

Fact: Even if you don't inhale, you are breathing in secondhand smoke, which puts you at risk for lung cancer. The good news is that it's never too late to quit. Your body starts healing itself within minutes of your last cigarette.

Myth: I've been smoking all my life and I'm fine.

Fact: You are not fine. Years of smoking have taken a toll on your body. You may be ignoring the little red flags, such as feeling winded when going up steps or having trouble getting over colds. Even if not, you can be sure that harm is being done that could lead to emphysema, a heart attack, stroke or cancer.

Myth: I only smoke a few cigarettes a day. That's not harmful.

Fact: Don't kid yourself. Smoking even one cigarette a day can have health consequences, including an increased risk of heart disease and the risk of dying at an earlier age.

Myth: I only smoke menthol/low-tar/"light" cigarettes, which are safer than regular cigarettes.

Fact: People who use menthol, low-tar or "light" cigarettes often inhale more deeply and hold the smoke longer than smokers who use regular cigarettes. There is no such thing as a safe cigarette.

Myth: My smoking doesn't hurt anyone but me.

Fact: Secondhand smoke actually contains higher concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals than the smoke that is inhaled. Living with a smoker raises a nonsmoker's risk of lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. Children exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher than normal risk of sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, lung infections and ear infections. Smoking during pregnancy can harm your baby and increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and low birth weight.

Myth: I only smoke cigars/a pipe/a hookah, so I don't have to worry.

Fact: Tobacco is dangerous and addictive, whether you smoke it in a cigar, a pipe or a hookah. Even if you don't inhale, nicotine is being absorbed into the lining of your mouth. Pipe and cigar smokers are at an increased risk for lip, mouth, tongue, and several other cancers, whether or not they inhale. There simply is no safe way to smoke.

Myth: The best way to quit is cold turkey.

Fact: Quitting cold turkey may not be your best bet. Remember, you are dealing with a powerful drug addiction. For some people, nicotine is as addictive as heroin or cocaine. The average smoker may quit 10 times before being able to quit for good. Talk to your doctor about using nicotine replacement therapy to quit. Combining medication with a quit-smoking program doubles your chance of quitting successfully.

Myth: Quitting is expensive.

Fact: Think about how much you spend on your habit each day and add that up over a lifetime. If you smoke a pack a day, you are spending at least $1,000 a year. Treatment like nicotine replacement therapy costs about $3 to $10 a day over a fairly short period of time. Your health insurance may cover some smoking cessation products. Plus, many insurance companies offer discounts to nonsmokers. In the long run, you could save money and save your health.

Related Articles Quitting Smoking: 10 Things to Do Before Your Quit Day Kick the Habit: Tools to Help You Quit Smoking When You Quit Smoking: A Timeline to Better Health Kicking the Habit: How to Choose a Quit Date Decision Focus: Choosing a Nicotine Replacement Therapy

External Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking and tobacco use: basic information. . Accessed November 02, 2009 TreatTobacco.net. Demographics and health effects: key findings. . Accessed November 02, 2009 National Cancer Institute. Smoking. . Accessed November 02, 2009 American Cancer Society. What's so bad about tobacco? . Accessed November 02, 2009

This article was reviewed and updated 08-01-2009.