Mayo Clinic - Even a little smoking can do great harm

Q: In my 20s and early 30s, I was a pack-a-day smoker who tried frequently to kick the habit. For the past 13 years, I have smoked only periodically — about six days a year (when getting together with college friends). On those days, I smoke about two packs a day. What is the risk to my health posed by those six days of heavy smoking?

A: Your risk of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is clearly lower now than when you smoked a pack of cigarettes a day. There is no data that can accurately answer your question. We do know that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke, whether it's from smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke. By smoking occasionally, you definitely increase your chances of developing a tobacco-related disease, particularly heart disease.

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