Think Again. Light smokers beware: a new report from the U.S. Surgeon General shows that even brief exposure to tobacco smoke including secondhand smoke immediately damages the body and can lead to serious illness or death.

Will an occasional cigarette hurt me?

Occasional smoking won't hurt me.

People who smoke just a few days a week or just at some social gatherings sometimes think they'll escape the risks. ... “There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke.” Even relatively small amounts damage your blood vessels and make your blood more likely to clot.

Is it OK to have a cigarette once in awhile?

“Even when you smoke a little bit; over the weekend or once or twice a week, the study is showing that that is not safe and the sooner you try to quit, the better.” It's helpful to have research that can show the health risks of smoking just a few cigarettes a day, Dr. Choi says.