There is no “safe” number of cigarettes you can smoke without risking your health. Even a few cigarettes a day can significantly increase your chances of developing cancer, particularly lung cancer. In fact, the more you smoke, the greater the risk.

A 2021 study examined 229,028 Australians to assess the likelihood of developing lung cancer by age 80. The findings showed that only 1% of non-smokers developed lung cancer. However, this risk increases sharply with smoking habits. For example, smoking just one to five cigarettes per day raises 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 need to be a smoker to be affected. Exposure to secondhand smoke can also raise your risk of developing smoking-related cancers.

Ultimately, no amount of smoking is safe, and cutting back or quitting entirely is the best way to reduce your risk.