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Although many people consider smoking occasionally or only in social contexts to be harmless, scientific evidence indicates that even sporadic consumption poses health risks. Tobacco remains a leading cause of preventable illness and death, and experts warn that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. One of the most underestimated dangers of social smoking is the development of nicotine dependence, in addition to the immediate and long-term damage it causes to various organs.
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How does smoking affect the body?
From the first inhalation, tobacco smoke has negative effects on the body. When we smoke, we inhale nicotine and thousands of toxic chemicals, many of which are linked to cancer and chronic diseases. Science has already identified more than 7,000 compounds in cigarette smoke, dozens of which are carcinogenic.
Cigarettes are still responsible for the deaths of thousands of people around the world
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Electronic cigarettes, which are banned from sale in Brazil by Anvisa, return to the center of the debate. — Photo: Jeenah Moon/The New York Times
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Electronic cigarette. — Photo: EVA HAMBACH / AFP
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Smoking causes 70% of lung cancer and increases the risk of 14 other types of tumors. — Photo: Freepik
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Just like traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes increase the risk of heart attack and stroke — Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK
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Smoking was by far the biggest contributor, followed by alcohol and being overweight. — Photo: Freepik
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Activists pile up half a million cigarette butts in Lisbon — Photo: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
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A young man smokes an electronic cigarette inside a Casino in Las Vegas — Photo: Sandy Huffaker/The New York Times
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Amid the regulatory debate over electronic cigarettes in Brazil, consumption of ‘vapes’ is growing and the product is freely sold. O Globo — Photo: O Globo/AP
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The sooner you stop smoking, the lower your risk of death, a study shows. — Photo: Freepik.com
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Young people between 12 and 17 years old start cigarette smuggling to earn income and end up leaving their studies Disclosure National Forum Against Piracy and Illegality (FNCP) — Photo: Disclosure
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Electronic version also presents health risks
In the short term, smoking can cause lung irritation, sore throat, coughing and greater susceptibility to respiratory infections. Over time, the damage becomes structural: lung alveoli deteriorate, increasing the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema.
Impact of tobacco on the heart and circulation
Even occasional smoking causes a temporary increase in blood pressure, narrowing of blood vessels, and increased cardiovascular stress. Medical research shows that smokers are more likely to develop heart disease and have a higher risk of heart attack and thrombosis compared to non-smokers.
Cancer risk: regardless of quantity
Smoking is the main risk factor for lung cancer, but it is also associated with a significant increase in head and neck cancer and other types of tumors. Scientific studies indicate that smoking can increase mortality from diseases not always directly related to tobacco, such as serious infections or kidney failure.
Does smoking less reduce harm?
Reducing the number of cigarettes smoked daily does not eliminate the risks. Scientific studies have shown that reducing consumption, without completely stopping smoking, does not significantly reduce the likelihood of developing tobacco-related diseases. On the other hand, stopping smoking brings almost immediate health benefits, although the body can take years to fully recover.
4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded incorrectly each year
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Cigarette on the beach sand — Photo: Freepik
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Cigarro — Photo: Freepik
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Activists pile up half a million cigarette butts in Lisbon — Photo: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
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The benefits of giving up smoking are significant even in old age. — Photo: Unsplash
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Using interventions can more than double the chances of quitting smoking. — Photo: FreePik
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The “Revolution of Bitucas” collective aims to collect one million cigarette butts from the shores of Rio — Photo: Ernesto Carriço/Disclosure
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cigarette — Photo: Pixabay
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Straw cigarette. — Photo: Reproduction / TV Globo
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Straw cigarette. — Photo: Reproduction
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Smoking was by far the biggest contributor, followed by alcohol and being overweight. — Photo: Freepik
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Cigarette — Photo: Freepik.com
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Protesters gathered 650,000 cigarette butts to protest against pollution in Lisbon — Photo: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
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Tobacco conference will discuss how to eliminate items
Even a little smoking can lead to addiction
Although the risk of dependence is lower in those who smoke very little, it is not zero. Each cigarette reinforces the mechanisms of nicotine dependence, and in people who smoked regularly in the past, “occasional” smoking can facilitate a relapse.
Alcohol consumption often increases the desire to smoke, especially at parties or celebrations. To avoid this, behavioral science recommends:
- Seek social support, such as a friend who reinforces your decision not to smoke.
- Have oral alternatives, such as gum or snacks.
- Identify the reason for this desire (anxiety, need to fit in, nervousness) to find healthier coping strategies.
Focusing on long-term health and recognizing that there is no safe way to use tobacco are essential steps to resist temptation.
