Can i smoke once in awhile

That proportion will likely rise in the future, the study says. Medical researchers and health care providers traditionally viewed this level of low-intensity smoking as a temporary practice among people who are trying to quit, the study says.

However, research indicates that many low-intensity smokers maintain these smoking patterns for many years over their lifetime. Smoking duration is a substantially more important factor for disease risk than the number of cigarettes per day, the study says.

Many people, particularly those who are younger, erroneously believe that smoking a few cigarettes a day or a week is fairly safe, says pulmonologist Humberto Choi, MD. Choi, who specializes in thoracic oncology and critical care, did not take part in the study. Choi says. Light, long-term smokers who quit were able to lower their risk of death — and the younger they were when they quit, the better, the study says.

Choi said the results of the study are an important message to parents too, as parents who smoke are more likely to have kids who smoke. What was the trigger that prompted you to pick up a cigarette again? Once you've identified it, make a plan for handling it in the future. Learn from your slip, so that you'll be better prepared next time. This may also be a good time to rethink your quitting strategy.

Consider trying a nicotine replacement therapy or joining a quit-smoking program, for instance. Negative emotions like depression, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed are among the biggest contributors to relapse, says Jorenby.

A counselor, a support group or treatment program, or a telephone support line can help you learn coping skills such as how to address negative feelings, rather than masking them with a cigarette. Have you found yourself saying "I'll just have one"?

If so, it's very unlikely that you'll be able to stop there. One cigarette may seem harmless, but it can quickly lead to resuming your regular smoking habit, even if you've gone a long time without smoking. Nine out of 10 people return to smoking after having just one cigarette. And as Jorenby points out, this usually happens fairly quickly. If you've been smoking for a long time, you may find yourself thinking "What's the use of quitting now?

There are other benefits, too. Your loved ones won't be exposed to as much secondhand smoke and you'll be setting a good example for them. Last but not least, think of all the money you'll save when you're not buying cigarettes. Keep a positive outlook, and take it one day at a time. National Institute on Drug Abuse website. October 23, Unfortunately, smoking fewer cigarettes does not reduce the risk of smoking-related health problems. With occasional smoking, you still have several health risks , like:.

A study shows that even occasional smoking affects memory. Northumbria University in the United Kingdom gave a memory test to college students who smoked either occasionally, regularly, or not at all.