As a public health expert with a focus on the impacts of smoking on health, I can tell you that any amount of smoking, even just one cigarette a week, is not without risk. Smoking is a well-known contributor to a variety of health issues, including respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and various types of cancer. The harmful chemicals in cigarettes can cause damage to the body with each puff, and the cumulative effect over time can be significant.

While one cigarette a week may seem like a small amount compared to daily smoking, it still exposes the body to harmful substances such as nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide. These substances can lead to addiction and have negative effects on lung function and overall health.

Moreover, the habit of smoking, even occasionally, can normalize the behavior and make it more likely for the individual to increase the frequency or number of cigarettes smoked over time. It's also important to consider the social and environmental impact of smoking, as it can encourage others to smoke and contribute to secondhand smoke exposure for those around.

In conclusion, while one cigarette a week might be less harmful than regular smoking, it is still not advisable due to the potential health risks and the possibility of establishing a habit that could escalate.

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Smoking is indeed bad for you no matter how much you do it, but there are few things quite so dignified as a social cigarette. ... Even Gwyneth Paltrow, healthiest of healthies, smokes one cigarette a week. The occasional smoke is an indulgence, not a deviance. In other words: Long live the social smoker, so to speak.read more >>