The Dangers of Irregular Smoking
If you see yourself as a low-level or occasional smoker, you probably fall into one of these categories:
The Social Smoker
Someone who tends to only smoke in social settings, like at the pub or when out with friends.
The Binge Smoker
Someone who smokes a lot more at certain times than others, such as at the weekend.
The Low-Level Smoker
Someone who only smokes a few cigarettes a day or just smokes occasionally.
If you identify as one of the above, you might think you’re not doing yourself any harm because you’re not a regular or heavy smoker – but here’s the truth:
There is NO safe level of smoking.
Even if you smoke occasionally or just on weekends, you are still a smoker – and the health dangers of low level smoking are serious and significant.
The Health Effects of Irregular Smoking: Do You Know the Real Risk?
- Smoking just 1-4 cigarettes a day almost triples your risk of dying from heart disease or lung cancer.
- Light and intermittent smokers have nearly the same risk of cardiovascular disease as people who smoke daily.
- Occasional male smokers are 60% more likely to die earlier than non-smoking males.
- Low-level female smokers typically lose 4-6 years of their life compared to non-smoking females.
- Non-daily (social) smokers who still smoke over 3 packs a month are just as likely to still be smoking after 14 years as daily smokers.