Apart from the obvious risk of addiction and potential to increase the amount you smoke, what are the risks/potential health effects, compared to smoking, say, 5 a day?
Thanks
Matt
2006-11-04 05:57:59 · 12 answers · asked by -=Matt=- 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Sorry guys, I don't smoke at all, I was asking as I am concerned about someone else, who smokes maybe once a month, because they enjoy it. Obviously I would be very concerned if they smoked every day (which they used to, but cut down). They argue that only smoking once a month (and about 4-5 over a couple of days, isn't enough to make me worry about their health.
I was wondering if this is true.
I mentioned that I was aware of the potential for addiction, but wanted to discount this for the sake of argument (assuming they stick to a few a month).
2006-11-04 23:45:38 · update #1
Smoking any cigarette does damage to your lung and organs, however... Here are some facts for ya.
Within 20 minutes of your last cigarette, your blood pressure and pulse return to normal. Within eight hours, the carbon monoxide and oxygen levels in your blood return to normal. After 48 hours, your senses of smell and taste return to that of a non-smoker. Your lung capacity improves within 72 hours as you bronchial tubes begin to relax.
And if you are quitting the addiction: your circulation and lung function improve within two weeks to three months after you quit. As the cilia in your bronchial tubes regrow you will be able to clear your lungs easier and reduce the number of infections in your lungs. This process begins within one to nine months. At five years, your lung cancer death rate decreases from 137 per 100,000 people to 72 per 100,000 and drops to 12 per 100,000 after 10 years. This rate is similar to that of nonsmokers.
So, with just 5 cigarettes a month, you can still develop lung cancer, but, for the most part you will have the overall health of a non-smoker.
2006-11-04 06:12:07 · answer #1 · answered by carmenPI 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The same as 50 a day if you only smoke 5 a month give it up while you can ( easily) as you Will only smoke 10 a month soon then 20 , 30 , 40 , and so on. When I was 12 years old I only smoked 1 or two a week, it took me 40 years to stop after going to 50 a day, and now my lungs are shot, I have BPOC and Emphysema, I do not work any more, I do not have a lot of money and I am only 56 , so you see I have pretty well fucked things up.
2006-11-04 06:18:37 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No risk. I have read all your answers below and I have studied Smoking and SHS for 10 years. I never suggest for anyone to smoke but what you have read has usually been subjected to misinformation from our Media and American Cancer Society. You must smoke for many years and smoking is only one of the many risk factors that may contribute to lung cancer. Smoking in the U.S. has dropped 50% but cancer as well as most diseases is still on the rise. Look up Depleted Uranium for an eye opener. Less that 15% of smokers get lung cancer and of that number they are not certain how many were caused by smoking alone. Why don't you just quit and get everyone off your back. They will all feel better for it.
2006-11-04 06:38:54 · answer #3 · answered by Klunk 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I can't imagine how this amount of smoking can be so detrimental to anyone's health. Cigarettes kill, no doubt about it. But that's mostly from heart disease which is the number one killer of everyone smoker and non- smokers alike. We have all been raised to think if we touch a cigarerette, we are getting lung cancer and that's it. Not true.
2006-11-05 10:59:50 · answer #4 · answered by Bard's Babe 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
More than half as bad as smoking 10 cigarettes a month,,,are you inhaling?
2006-11-04 06:10:22 · answer #5 · answered by Boopsie 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This might sound a daft question but if u only smoke 5 why bother at all?
2006-11-04 06:02:57 · answer #6 · answered by bcs31859 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its very bad for you because you're walking the thin line between recreational use and addiction. 9 out of 10 times addiction will win. dont bother smoking any cigs. obviously your not addicted yet. why wait until you are to try and quit?
Dont be stupid quit now.
2006-11-04 06:02:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
smoking any amount is bad for you 5 a month you should be able to give up
2006-11-04 08:52:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I cant give you numbers but logic would suggest its going to be a lot less damaging than 5 a day.
2006-11-04 06:02:09 · answer #9 · answered by huggz 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Every drag you take off a cigarette takes 7 seconds off of your life.
2006-11-04 06:05:50 · answer #10 · answered by Rachel C 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋