HSI Calculator — Heaviness of Smoking Index

Nicotine dependence is a state where you need nicotine to function normally, and you cannot stop using it. Nicotine is a chemical compound that naturally occurs in some plants, including tobacco. Its use is associated with pleasing effects on the brain, and therefore nicotine it's often used as a stimulant.

Cigarettes contain tobacco and are highly addictive due to their nicotine content. Cigarette smoking is associated with many health problems, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart disease. It doesn't matter how long you have smoking for – quitting smoking can improve your health. It may not be easy, but it is possible to stop the dependence on nicotine.

If you are fighting with nicotine addiction, we have other resources that you may find useful:

• Cigarette calculator — helps you estimate your lifetime exposure to cigarettes;
• Smoking recovery calculator — shows you the process of recovery after smoking cessation;
• Pack year calculator — helps you to find out how many packs of cigarettes you have smoked in your life and provides a pack year value;
• Cigarette butt calculator — will encourage you to start your clean-up initiative; and
• Quit smoking calculator — helps you to estimate your potential savings if you decide to quit smoking.

The Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) questionnaire was developed to measure nicotine dependence using two questions from the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence:

1. On the days that you smoke, how soon after you wake up do you have your first cigarette?

2. How many cigarettes do you typically smoke per day?

Each question has four possible answers, scored from 0 to 3 points:

Question 1:

• Within 5 minutes (3 points);
• 6- 30 minutes (2 points);
• 31-60 minutes (1 point); and
• After 60 minutes (0 points).

Question 2:

• 10 or fewer (0 points);
• 11-20 (1 point);
• 21-30 (2 points); and
• 31 or more (3 points).

HSI is commonly used both in the clinic and in population surveys to assess nicotine dependence.

Depending on the Heaviness of Smoking Index score, nicotine dependence is categorized in the following ways:

• Low (0-2 points);
• Medium (3-4 points); and
• High (5-6 points).

The maximum score of the Heaviness of Smoking Index is 6.

Using the HSI calculator couldn't be easier. Just answer two questions:

1. How soon after you wake up do you have your first cigarette?
2. How many cigarettes do you typically smoke per day?

You can choose one of the four possible answers.

At the bottom of the HSI calculator, you will be able to see a result interpretation based on your answers.

🙋 Visit the addiction calculator, a tool that may help you in your recovery — or just satisfy your curiosity.