Over time, we’ve heard many things about smoking—some true and some completely false.

Unfortunately, some of the information we’ve been told about smoking is misleading and even dangerous.

Let’s clear up some of these myths and understand the real truth about smoking cigarettes.

Many people believe that smoking “light” or “mild” cigarettes is less harmful than regular ones. This is a lie that cigarette companies promoted to make their products seem less dangerous. The truth is, light cigarettes still contain harmful chemicals and nicotine. Smokers of light cigarettes take deeper or more frequent puffs to get the same nicotine hit, which means they might end up inhaling more smoke and harmful substances. In short, there’s no safe cigarette, whether it’s labelled “light” or not.

Another common belief is that smoking helps you stay slim by suppressing your appetite. While smoking might reduce your hunger temporarily, it comes with serious health risks that far outweigh any potential weight control benefits. Relying on cigarettes to maintain a certain weight is unhealthy and dangerous. There are healthier and safer ways to manage weight, such as eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly, that don’t involve putting your health at risk.

Some people think that only heavy smokers get addicted, but this is far from true.

Nicotine, the addictive substance in cigarettes, can create dependency even if you smoke occasionally. What starts as a social habit can quickly turn into a serious addiction. Once you start craving that next cigarette, you’re already on a slippery slope. Nicotine addiction can be tough to break and often leads to a lifelong struggle with smoking.

For a long time, smokers have believed that secondhand smoke isn’t harmful to others. However, studies have shown that secondhand smoke is incredibly dangerous. It contains many of the same harmful chemicals that smokers inhale, putting non-smokers at risk for various health problems, including lung cancer and heart disease. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Smoking affects more than just the smoker.

Many smokers tell themselves they can quit anytime they decide. However, the reality is that quitting smoking is challenging. Nicotine is highly addictive, and many smokers need multiple attempts to quit successfully. Withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and cravings make quitting even harder. This lie downplays the real challenge of quitting smoking and keeps people from seeking the support they need to kick the habit for good.