What are the health effects of casual/ light smoking?
Some people believe that smoking only in social situations or smoking only a few cigarettes a day is not harmful. Although health risks related to smoking increase with the amount smoked and the length of time a person smokes, there is no safe amount to smoke. Any time that tobacco smoke touches a living cell, some damage is done. When a person inhales cigarette smoke, the smoke enters the lungs and damage lung tissues. Nicotine in the smoke is then rapidly absorbed into the blood within ten seconds. Nicotine quickly increases heart trait and blood pressure and restricts blood flow to the heart. Nicotine also lowers skin temperature and reduces blood flow in the legs and feet. A major concern is that most people who start as casual smokers think they can stop whenever they chose. However, studies show that many of them become regular smokers.
