01. ‘Light’ or ‘mild’ cigarettes
‘Safer’ cigarettes, such as low tar, filtered or menthol cigarettes aren’t really safer. Their health benefits are minor, and are often counteracted by how they are smoked.
Read | 02. Behind the Smoke Screen
From bone loss to impotence, count the ways tobacco is bad for your body. Lung cancer and heart disease are known to be the lethal results of smoking.
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03. Can't I just cut down?
It’ll help somewhat to cut down, although this of course depends on how much you were smoking originally, and by how much you reduce.
Read | 04. Can’t I still smoke occasionally?
This is very risky for most ex-smokers. Like any drug, nicotine creates a permanent tolerance in the body. When an ex-smoker smokes, the nicotine reaction may be triggered again.
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05. Cigars and pipe tobacco
Some cigarette smokers switch to pipes or cigars in the belief that this is a less dangerous form of smoking. But pipe and cigar smokers are also at increased risk.
Read | 06. Commit to quit smoking
Quitting smoking is hard, there's no doubt about it. However, if you can tough it out for at least two years, chances are good you'll never light another cigarette again.
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07. Frequently asked questions
Find out what second-hand smoke is, what is in it and how it affects you.
Read | 08. How smoking affects your heart
In South Africa, seven million people smoke, 80% have tried to quit at least once and 90% of people started smoking before the age of 18. Here's how it affects your heart health.
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09. Nicotine
Nicotine changes how your body and brain function. It both invigorates and relaxes smokers, depending on how much they smoke. There are almost no benefits to nicotine.
Read | 10. Quit Day and beyond
Quit Day is a pretty momentous occasion. It is, quite literally, the start of a new life.
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11. Smoking affects your skin
Smoking accelerates the natural ageing processes, which is most apparent in the facial skin.
Read | 12. A time bomb in your smokes?
Smokers have been accused of just about everything except the 9/11 attack and child slavery in the Middle East. The following facts will make you consider your long term health.
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13. Ways to quit smoking
The benefits of smoking cessation are clear: only 20 minutes after a smoker’s last cigarette, blood pressure and heart rate start to return to normal.
Read | 14. What makes you smoke?
Understanding why you smoke is an important step in giving up. There may be more than one reason, of course.
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