There’s no “safe” number of cigarettes you can smoke without putting your health at risk. Even smoking a few cigarettes a day can significantly increase your chances of developing cancer, especially lung cancer. In fact, the more you smoke, the greater your risk.
A 2021 study examined 229,028 Australians to assess the likelihood of developing lung cancer by age 80. The results showed that only 1% of nonsmokers developed lung cancer. However, this risk increases dramatically with smoking habits. For example, smoking just one to five cigarettes a day increases the risk to 7.7%. Those who smoke more than 35 cigarettes a day face a 26.4% chance of developing lung cancer by age 80.
It’s also important to note that you don’t have to be a smoker to be affected. Exposure to secondhand smoke can also increase your risk of developing smoking-related cancers.
Ultimately, no amount of cigarette smoking is safe, and cutting down or quitting smoking altogether is the best way to reduce your risk.
