WORLD (Enmaeya News) - December 6, 2025

New evidence confirms that even “social” or low‑intensity smoking significantly increases the risk of heart disease, challenging assumptions that a few cigarettes here and there are harmless.

Researchers behind a large review of more than 300,000 adults, tracked over multiple years, found that smoking as few as two to five cigarettes per day, compared to never smoking, was linked to a 57 % increase in risk of heart failure and a 60 % higher risk of death from any cause.

Cardiologists say the danger is immediate and disproportionate: the first few cigarettes may cause the greatest damage, since even low exposure can trigger blood‑vessel irritation, increased clotting, and damage to the arteries, key mechanisms in heart disease.

Importantly, the harmful effects of smoking apply even at minimal levels, contradicting the notion that “cutting back” is enough to reduce risk. Experts emphasize there is no safe level of smoking for cardiovascular health.

For public health, the message is clear: quitting completely, not just reducing, remains the most effective strategy to protect the heart. Former smokers see their risk decline substantially over time, although some elevated risk may persist for years compared with never‑smokers.