| You are here: | About>Health>Smoking Cessation> Cigars, Pipes and Smokeless> Facts about Cigar Smoking |
![]() | Smoking Cessation |
Smoking and Your HealthSmoking and Dental ProblemsHow Smoking Harms Us - From Head to ToeSmoking and Graves Disease Related SitesThe Dangers of Cigar SmokingAbout.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
Cigar Smoking FactsYoung Americans are picking up cigar smoking in increasing numbers. This growing trend is due in part to big tobaccos efforts to glamorize cigar smoking and has been reinforced by the movie industry. The portrayal of stars smoking in movies is influential, and often directly aimed at young people. Many people are under the misconception that smoking a cigar is a safe alternative to cigarette smoking. It is not. Lets take a look at some of the facts about the dangers of cigar smoking: Cigars are AddictiveNicotine is the addictive ingredient in any tobacco product. Cigars have a high level of nicotine in them; usually many times that of cigarettes. In fact, some premium cigars have as much nicotine in them as an entire pack of cigarettes, or more. If cigar smoke is inhaled, nicotine will enter the bloodstream through the lungs. If not, the nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth. Cigar smoke dissolves more easily in saliva than cigarette smoke because its composition is alkaline. This allows for quick absorption of nicotine, producing dependence without inhalation.Cigar Smoking and CancerOral cancer, including cancers of the lip, tongue, mouth and throatCigar Smoking and Heart DiseaseCigar smoking is hard on the heart. A 25 year long study published in the Journal of American Medical Association reported that cigar smokers may suffer as much as 27 percent more risk than that of nonsmokers for coronary heart disease. The study looked at approximately 18,000 men, between the ages of 30 and 85. Over 1500 of them were cigar smokers, and it was discovered that these people suffered more occurrences of heart disease than did their nonsmoking counterparts.Cigar Smoking and COPDCigar smokers are at an increased risk over nonsmokers for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Most cigar smokers dont inhale, so the risk of COPD is less than that of cigarette smokers. A U.S. study reports that cigar smokers have up to 45 percent greater risk of COPD than that of nonsmokers.Cigar Smoking and Early Tooth LossThere is evidence showing that cigar and pipe smoking may also lead to early tooth loss according to a study published in the January 1999 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. Researchers from Boston University followed 690 men over the course of 23 years and concluded that those who smoked cigars were 30 percent more likely to lose their teeth than nonsmokers. Pipe smokers were 60 percent more likely suffer early tooth loss than nonsmokers. Cigar and pipe smokers are also at an increased risk for alveolar bone loss.Cigar smoking is dangerous. All forms of tobacco have risks associated with them, and cigars are no different. Dont be fooled. There is no such thing as a risk-free tobacco product. Sources: Updated: July 10, 2006 Smoking and Your HealthSmoking and Dental ProblemsHow Smoking Harms Us - From Head to ToeSmoking and Graves Disease |
Dealing With Heart DiseaseHeart Disease BasicsCommon SymptomsTreatment OptionsReducing Your RiskWomen and Heart Disease |
All Topics | Email Article | | | ![]() |
| Advertising Info | News & Events | Work at About | SiteMap | Reprints | Help | Our Story | Be a Guide |
| More from About, Inc.: Calorie Count Plus | UCompareHealthCare User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Corrections | Privacy Policy | ©2008 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved. |


