Key takeaways
- Light' smoking: 5 or fewer cigarettes daily.
- All tobacco is dangerous; health risks persist.
- Pregnancy: 'Light' smoking harms fetus, increases complications.
- Post-surgery 'light' smoking hinders healing, weakens immunity.
- Quit for health, not cigarette count.
Do you, or perhaps someone you know, think that smoking just a few cigarettes here and there is actually a healthier option?
This is often referred to as ‘light smoking’.
For many years, even up to today, lots of people have believed that reducing the number of cigarettes they smoke means they’re doing less harm to their bodies.
However, you must take note that ‘light smoking’ isn’t any better for you than puffing on a full pack every day.
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So, let’s take a look into some common misconceptions about this and take a closer look at how light smoking affects your health.
What is ‘Light’ Smoking?
In general, this means smoking five or fewer cigarettes each day.
This may sound like a significant drop—about a 75% reduction if you’re used to a whole pack daily.
However, it’s important for many smokers to understand that the harmful effects of smoking aren’t just about how many cigarettes you smoke.
Here’s the truth: it’s the toxic substances found in cigarette smoke that pose a serious risk to your health.
All Smoking is Dangerous
Smoking, no matter where it comes from or how much you indulge, is a serious threat to your health.
Just one puff from a cigarette exposes you to over 7,000 harmful chemicals. 69 of those are linked to cancer.
If you’re already trying to be healthier by cutting down on cigarettes, why not take it a step further and quit entirely? It’s definitely a more effective choice and will do wonders for your overall well-being.
Instead of reaching for a cigarette, consider switching to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, or even nicotine vaping products (NVPs) available at pharmacies.
These options can make it much easier for you to kick the habit for good and lead you towards a smoke-free life much sooner.
The Dangers of ‘Light’ Smoking During Pregnancy
When it comes to most things we consume, it’s easy to believe that cutting back means less harm to our bodies— like enjoying sweets in moderation.
But that logic doesn’t apply to smoking. Even a quick search will show you there’s no “safe” level of cigarette consumption.
Yet, many people still believe the myth, including pregnant women.
Some women who smoked regularly before pregnancy might think that smoking less, or “light” smoking, won’t harm their baby.
Pregnancy is a stressful time, but it’s also a crucial period for both the mother and the unborn child.
The truth is, even a small amount of cigarette smoke can cause severe effects on a developing fetus.
Cigarette smoke is packed with harmful chemicals that can stunt your baby’s growth and increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and birth.
If you’re a mum-to-be and also a smoker, quitting isn’t easy, even when you want the best for your baby.
But don’t worry, we’re here to share some helpful tips on keeping your unborn child healthy and safe, both before and after they’re born.
‘Light’ Smoking After Having a Dental Surgery
Do you find your recent tooth extraction or surgery a bit achy and healing slowly? You can blame ‘light’ smoking for that.
When you smoke ‘lightly’, you may think your dental surgery has less exposure to the dangers of cigarette smoke. Again, while it seems to make sense, it doesn’t – any smoke exposure significantly slows down healing and weakens your immune system at the same time. Truth be told, many people who just had surgery and kept lighting a ciggie still experienced a painful and infected wound.
So, if you want the pain to stop and to heal your tooth extraction well, stop smoking, not even ‘lightly’.
Quitting Smoking: The Only Way to Get Healthy
The only way to quit smoking is not by counting the number of darts you light up daily but by dedicating yourself to the process. You can start by making up your mind and then calling a GP to aid you.
GPs are the guides on a mountain trail where it’s easy for anyone to get lost. With their help, many successful smokers have kicked the habit – and so will you. They can personalise your smoking cessation journey and assess your difficulties to make it easier for you and increase your chance to quit.
Make It Easier With Quitting Tools
A GP can also help you with the right tools. They know your withdrawals are hard to control, so they may prescribe NRT products and nicotine vaping products (NVPs) from pharmacies.
NRT products provide a small dose of nicotine to satisfy cravings and wean you off nicotine slowly without harming you with cigarette smoke.
The alternative, pharmacy-bought NVPs available through prescription, are the second means after NRT products do not seem to work on you. But don’t mistake these for illicit NVPs sold illegally in tobacconists and convenience stores.
NVP products sold in pharmacies are made under stringent pharmaceutical standards on the manufacturing process and ingredients, are toxicologically assessed for inhalation, are locally insured, and are specifically designed to help you stop smoking.
Prescription NVPs may be a second-line solution, but the latest Cochrane Review found high-certainty evidence that NVPs are more effective than NRT in helping people stop smoking.
Summary
It’s understandable to believe that ‘light’ smoking could be a healthier option. But that’s not true – just one cigarette every day will still introduce the same hazardous and carcinogenic chemicals into your body. The best way is to stop smoking for good to keep yourself healthy and live a long life.
You’re reading this because you want to finally kick out cigarettes from your life starting with smoking fewer cigarettes. We hope you found this informative and are ready to take the next steps.
Smokefree Clinic gives you access to many medically reviewed and trustworthy resources that can inform and aid you in your path to wellness, so have a look around!
If you’re ready to get started, Smokefree can connect you to Australian healthcare professionals who excel in helping patients quit smoking for good.
Link Reference:
- https://researchoutreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Professor-Allan-Hackshaw.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/pregnancy/index.htm
- https://www.johntgreendds.com/tooth-extraction-smoke-after/
- https://www.cochrane.org/news/latest-cochrane-review-finds-high-certainty-evidence-nicotine-e-cigarettes-are-more-effective