{"id":5919,"date":"2020-03-10T19:56:40","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T19:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flushinghospital.org\/newsletter\/?p=5919"},"modified":"2020-03-10T19:56:40","modified_gmt":"2020-03-10T19:56:40","slug":"how-harmful-is-occasional-or-social-smoking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flushinghospital.org\/newsletter\/how-harmful-is-occasional-or-social-smoking\/","title":{"rendered":"How Harmful is Occasional or Social Smoking?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"social<\/a>\u00a0\u201cI am not really a smoker because I only smoke on occasion or socially.\u201d These words are frequently spoken by those who consider themselves light or social smokers. \u00a0It is quite common to find that people within this group are usually in denial of the frequency of their use of cigarettes and believe that they are not at risk of developing tobacco-related illnesses.<\/p>\n

The truth is contrary as research has found that one-third of people who classify themselves as social smokers actually smoke more than six times per day.\u00a0 Additionally, whether someone smokes a lot or a little, they are at risk for developing diseases caused by tobacco. \u00a0The damage that one puff of nicotine causes is instant. \u00a0It takes 10 seconds for nicotine to be transported throughout the body and to the brain. Nicotine also slows down circulation and increases blood pressure and heart rate.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, in a study conducted by the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, it was found that light smoking may result in several health complications such as:<\/p>\n