Casual or social tobacco use is not dangerous.

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 damages lung tissue. Nicotine in the smoke is then rapidly absorbed into the blood. Within 10 seconds, nicotine starts affecting the brain. Nicotine quickly increases heart rate 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 choose. However, studies show that many of them become regular smokers.

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