MODEL RELEASED. Smoking and depression. Woman smokes a cigarette while holding her head in a depressed state. The stimulant of nicotine in cigarette smoking may temporarily lift a mood of feeling down", but smoking is no long term answer to an emotional problem such as depression. The dangers of cigarette smoking include an increased risk of lung cancer, bronchitis, emphysema and coronary artery disease. Smoking may also affect the unborn child in pregnant women."