Why is smoking so dangerous, anyway?

Smoking a cigarette burns tobacco leaves, which releases hundreds of chemicals into your lungs. Hundreds of these chemicals are known to cause long-term health problems, including many forms of cancer, heart disease, reproductive challenges, and more.

Nicotine is one of the chemicals found in tobacco. It is a highly addictive stimulant. Though it is not as dangerous as many of the other chemicals found in cigarettes, it is what makes smoking addictive and extremely difficult to quit.

If you want to quit smoking, nicotine replacement therapies like gum, the patch, or lozenges can help you weather nicotine cravings. Counseling and certain medications can also help you break the habit.

However, for many people these solutions aren’t enough. If a person can’t or won’t quit smoking in these ways, less harmful products containing nicotine—like e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches—may be appropriate.

These products aren’t entirely safe, but they don’t contain many of the harmful chemicals found in cigarettes. Many health authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the UK’s National Health System, say that these tools are an appropriate solution for adults who smoke and want to improve their health by switching entirely.

There is no right way to quit smoking; the best way is the one that works for you.