Wondering about smoking? Here are some quick facts on how it affects your health
I only smoke four cigarettes a day, which I say is not enough to cause any harm or cause me to become addicted. My Mom says even one cigarette can cause cancer and that I am addicted already. Who is right?
I have to give this one to your mother. Research has shown that even one cigarette a day causes damage to the DNA of your cells. Of course the more cigarettes you smoke and the more years you smoke (known as “pack-years” by the doctors who treat lung cancer patients,) the more likely you are to develop lung cancer. As for addiction, nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known to man; more addictive than heroin. To find out if you or your mother is right about the addiction question, this would be a good time to throw the cigarettes away. If you’re not already addicted, you’ll be stopping a habit that will otherwise certainly escalate and perhaps shorten your life.
