Tobacco

Is what

you know about smoking wrong?

The 2010 Surgeon General’s Report 

reveals new facts about smoking. Some 

may surprise you. This new research 

shows how tobacco smoke causes disease 

and addiction. Maybe it will change what 

you think about smoking.

Myth

Smoking is just 

a choice.

The first time? Yes. After 

just a few cigarettes? No.

Addiction to nicotine can 

happen quickly. It changes 

the chemical balance in 

your brain. Smoking may 

seem like it’s just a choice 

or a habit. In fact, most 

people who use tobacco are 

addicted.

Breaking nicotine addiction 

is harder for some people 

than others. Quitting can 

take several tries. But don’t 

give up.

If you need help to quit, 

ask your doctor about 

nicotine replacement, 

medicines, or coaching. 

Myth

Filters make 

cigarettes safer.

Filters do not protect 

you. They are designed 

to make smoke particles 

smaller. That makes 

nicotine easier to absorb. 

This increases addiction.

Cigarettes have been 

engineered to speed up 

nicotine’s path to your 

brain. Their design feeds 

addiction. 

Light or low-tar 

cigarettes may sound less 

dangerous. They aren’t. 

These misleading labels 

are no longer allowed.

No cigarette is safe. 

Tobacco smoke contains 

more than 7,000 

chemicals. At least 250 

are toxic. 

Myth

An occasional 

cigarette is no 

big deal.

 Smoking doesn’t just 

cause diseases for heavy 

smokers or longtime 

smokers. 

 The 2010 Surgeon 

General’s Report 

shows how breathing 

tobacco smoke can 

cause immediate harm. 

Tobacco smoke can 

trigger sudden heart 

attacks and death, even in 

nonsmokers. 

 Each cigarette you smoke 

hurts your lungs, your 

blood vessels, and cells 

throughout your body. 

 Smoking a few cigarettes 

a week can cause a heart 

attack.

 Cutting back is not 

enough to protect you. 

You have to quit entirely.
Myth

It’s too late 

to quit—the 

damage is 

already done.

 It’s true that the longer 

you use tobacco, the 

more you hurt your 

body. But at any age, 

the sooner you quit, the 

sooner your health can 

improve. 

 The 2010 Surgeon 

General’s Report shows 

how using tobacco 

causes disease almost 

everywhere in your body.

 Within 20 minutes after 

quitting, your body starts

to heal. 

After 2 to 5 years, your 

risk for stroke is similar 

to that of a nonsmoker.

In 10 years, your lung 

cancer risk is cut in half.

Myth

Secondhand 

smoke may 

bother people, 

but it isn’t 

dangerous.

Tens of thousands of 

nonsmokers die every year 

from breathing others’ 

secondhand smoke. 

Breathing the chemicals 

in tobacco smoke changes 

your blood’s chemistry 

almost immediately. 

Deadly clots can form 

and block arteries to your 

heart or brain.

When you smoke at 

work, home, or at a 

restaurant, everyone 

there breathes poisons.

If you smoke in your car, 

rolling down a window 

does not protect your 

passengers. 

It is not healthy to 

breathe any amount of 

tobacco smoke.

Myth

The little bit of 

smoke that my 

kids get doesn’t 

hurt them.

Don’t smoke or let 

others smoke around 

your children. They 

can get bronchitis, 

pneumonia, and ear 

infections from smoke. 

Even if you only smoke 

by an open window, 

some of the smoke 

stays in your house and 

poisons the air your 

children breathe. 

Children with asthma 

can have a serious, 

even deadly, asthma 

attack from breathing 

secondhand smoke. 

The best way to protect 

children is to quit 

smoking. If you or 

someone else in your 

household are not ready 

to quit, be sure to make 

your home and car 

100% smoke-free. 

Tobacco

Is what

you know about 

wr

smok

ong?

ing

Stop kidding yourself. 

FACT: Quitting smoking may be the most 

important step you take to save your life. Talk to 

your doctor or call a quitline for help now.

You can get FREE help at 

1-800-QUIT-NOW

(1-800-784-8669)

Get the RIGHT answers for how you can quit.

Go to

www.smokefree.gov for information on quitting.