Is Social Smoking Less Harmful Than Everyday?

As smoking gains a stigma, it’s becoming increasingly common to hear people justify lighting up with a throwaway, “But I’m only a social smoker” comment. But according to new research, ‘social smokers’ face the same risk of heart disease as their fellow everyday users.

Led by a team of US researchers, the study found that those who smoke the odd cigarette when out with friends are at the same risk of developing high blood pressure and cholesterol levels than those who light up every day.

Casual smoking and cardiovascular health

Dr Kate Gawlik, assistant professor of clinical nursing at Ohio State University was the study’s lead author, and stresses that even casual smoking can have an adverse impact on cardiovascular health.

The study drew on 39,000 people, with data sourced from Ohio State’s Million Hearts educational programme. More than 10% claimed to be ‘social smokers’ and around 17% admitted to smoking daily. Though despite different perceptions of what ‘category’ they fell into, around 75% of both groups had high blood pressure, while 54% suffered from high cholesterol. Both are significant contributors to cardiovascular disease, the world’s leading killer of both male and female adults.

“Not smoking at all is the best way to go. Even smoking in a social situation is detrimental to your cardiovascular health,” comments Dr Gawlik. “One in 10 people in this study said they sometimes smoke, and many of them are young and already on the path to heart disease.”

Experts call for better education

So, what’s the solution? According to senior study author Bernadette Melnyk, the answer is better education. She maintains that doctors and nurses should try to identify social smokers, then arm them with the advice and tools to quit the habit.

“These are striking findings and they have such significance for clinical practice and for population health,” she explains. “This has been a fairly neglected part of the population. We know that regular smoking is an addiction, but providers don’t usually ask about social smoking.

To Melnyk, it’s all about breaking down barriers and helping ‘social smokers’ realise that they too have a harmful addiction.

“Are you a smoker?” isn’t likely to work with social smokers, because they don’t think of themselves as addicted,” she adds.

So, while the occasional cigarette with friends may seem harmless, research definitely says otherwise.

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