Cigarette smoking: Is smoking a cigarette rarely really harmful?
Over time, smoking permanently damages the tiny air sacs in your lungs, making you more vulnerable to conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema, according to the NYT News Service.
Is it bad to smoke occasionally?
Blaha, who has conducted various studies on the effects of tobacco, said that even occasional smoke increases blood pressure, narrows blood vessels and strains the heart. Compared to non-smokers, regular smokers are more likely to develop heart disease and have twice the risk of having a stroke caused by blood clots.
By some estimates, about 10 percent of people in the United States consider themselves “social smokers” who smoke only when they are with other people.
There isn’t a lot of research on our occasional smokers, but here’s what we do know: Cigarettes are still the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, and experts say even social smoking carries risks, especially the risk of addiction.
Vachani said he can understand the urge to smoke during the holidays: It’s a time of celebration, and drinking alcohol can increase smokers’ enjoyment of cigarettes. “I try to tell people to keep an eye on the prize, which is your long-term health,” he said. If you expect to be in a smoking-heavy environment and hope to avoid smoking, MacKenzie Peltier, an assistant professor in the Yale department of psychiatry, suggested enlisting a friend who can support your task. He also said it’s smart to have alternatives such as chewing gum available.
It may also help to ask yourself why you want that cigarette. “Because you want to fit in and socialize? Because you feel a little nervous around a larger group and want to relax?” Peltier said. “When you think about why you might want to smoke, it can give you a lot of direction on how to stop yourself from smoking.”
