Cigar smoking health

[denarok]

I am curious and was trying to find information online and could not find too much.

I was trying to convince my wife that cigar smoking is a lot safer then when i was a cigarette smoker, because I am not inhaling, and she said what is the difference, when you are smoking that much more in that big cigar you are getting so much more dangerous stuff in your system.

Am I correct for cigar smokers you only have to worry about cancer in your mouth, teeth, and throat?

It is not dangerous to your lungs/heart? Or am i wrong?

Where with cigarettes you had to worry about all of the above?

Though you are still absorbing nicotine but not at the same absorption rate since you are not inhaling.

Plus there are no dangerous chemicals that they put in cigars like they do in cigarettes right? I know there are over 4,000 chemicals most of the companies put in, that you in inhale?

I am not saying any form of tobacco is 100% safe, but if you are going to choose one of the other I think I rather choose cigars over cigarettes right?

[ghe]

There has not been much in-depth scientific study on the effects of cigar smoking. Obviously, smoking anything is not a healthy activity, but I think you'll find a general consensus that the risk of moderate premium cigar smoking - say, a single cigar a day - for someone who does not inhale is considerably lower than cigarette smoking.

[Rodeo]

I've looked around as well, and the lack of informaton is kind of surprising. I guess that cigar smokers are not a big enough population to warrant in-depth study ???

[danmcmartin]

I have read something about the increased risk of cancer based on frequency/amount. I do not recall where I read this, but something tells me it was on the American Cancer Society site. Basically, smoking one cigar a day or less results in an insignificant increase in risk over not smoking. Seems to make sense. If you used to smoke two packs a day and now only smoke one cigar, despite the fact one cigar equals more than one cigarette, and you now don't inhale your risk would be reduced. Not to say its safe, but it is probably safer.

I'd rather live a short but full and enjoyable life than a long life of denial. Eat right, exercise, die anyway.

[Nismo#12]

The only thing I can say for the health issue of cigars (and I hear from the Mrs. as she is a nurse, but allows my vices in moderation) is mouth and gum cancer as well as nicotine addiction. I used to and still on occasion use smokeless tobacco and I know the risk for mouth, and gum is pretty higher because of the direct contact and nicotine absorbtion. But i also know that every handles risks differently. One person could get cancer after 5 years of use while someone else is perfectly fine event tho they use ate the same rate.

I think for the whole, cigars are safer but their is still a health risk (as with a lot of things) but in comparable usage over the long run I would think the cigars are "healthier" to some degree.

I would like to repoeat what several BOTL have stated - cigars do improve you mental health. You have time to sit, enjoy a cigars, and just have "me time" or time with good friends. Even the scientists say that time to reflected and decompress is very good for you. Cigars just help you do that. I know I feel better have sitting down for an hour or more just smoking or reading a book

[danmcmartin]

Originally Posted by Nismo#12

I would like to repoeat what several BOTL have stated - cigars do improve you mental health. You have time to sit, enjoy a cigars, and just have "me time" or time with good friends. Even the scientists say that time to reflected and decompress is very good for you. Cigars just help you do that. I know I feel better have sitting down for an hour or more just smoking or reading a book

+1

I always say that there is no bad food or good food, just food. Some of it is healthier or provides more nutrients, but if wolfing down a couple of trans-fat laden Oreos calms your nerves, then they have benefit. Same with cigars, scotch, or any other activity or vice that carries some danger, but helps make you happy. Moderation is the key.

[ZedR2]

No chemicals in a cigar also , look at all the 90 year old Cubans that have smoked cigars all there life and they are still living and working ?
My Grandfather smoked 8 cigars a day and died at the age of 86 from a car accident ..
Cancer is in your genes , look at all the kids that get it and never smoked anything ?

Need I say more :

[RicoPuro]

Try this:

Cigars and Cancer, 2002 Study

Jorge

[denarok]

Thanks for everyone response i am still reading that last article

As a rule I am like everyone else everything in moderation, I am not overly worried, I just wanted my wife to shutup already LOL, becuase i truly believed smoking those camel cigs with all those chemicals were a lot worst for me, because i mean i could feel it in my lungs, now i don't cough any more, and i can breathe

For the most part I only have one cigar a day at max in the summer, and now with the cold weather I am having less then that, in fact will probably only have 2-3 a week because I will be going to the lounge instead of braving the outside weather...i hate the cold weather



Though interesting thing about that report they said 10% of 20 smokers of large cigars inhaled (Todd, 1969.)

I accidentally inhaled once an Olivia V Serie, and i felt like someone puched me in the chest..i have no idea how anyone can inhale this smoke

[RicoPuro]

Denarok:

Agree. The key word is moderation. In addition to this, quality hand-made cigars are expensive. You will need deep pockets if you are planning on becoming a chain smoker of them. Plus, by smoking in moderation you enjoy them more as a treat.

Having said that, Mark Twain once said: I smoke in moderation, only one cigar at a time"

Jorge

[denarok]

Originally Posted by RicoPuro

Denarok:

Agree. The key word is moderation. In addition to this, quality hand-made cigars are expensive. You will need deep pockets if you are planning on becoming a chain smoker of them. Plus, by smoking in moderation you enjoy them more as a treat.

Having said that, Mark Twain once said: I smoke in moderation, only one cigar at a time"

Jorge

Yeah Mark Twain i heard had 22 cigars a day..I guess one for almost every hour and he lived to 74 lol

Most Cigars i ever had one day was 3 on a nice day on the weekend..

[RicoPuro]

Originally Posted by denarok

Yeah Mark Twain i heard had 22 cigars a day..I guess one for almost every hour and he lived to 74 lol

Most Cigars i ever had one day was 3 on a nice day on the weekend..

I smoked three in the company of friends and a bottle of brandy this past Friday but that is a rare occurrence. My record is 5 in one day. My average is 3-4 a week.

Jorge

[danmcmartin]

If you need a reason to calm the wife down tell her that while it carries some risks, the benefits far outway those risks, especially if you gave up cigarettes. You gotta come up with the benefits yourself as they are personal, but stress relief, better mood, better quality of life and keeping you off cigs come to mind.

[ongreystreet]

The moderation thing tends to be the big difference.

A few articles referenced on wiki,

see here:
Cigar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pretty much say that the health affects of a cigar or less a day can't be accurately measured.

The nicotine levels in cigars are also lower for a few reasons, such as aging and washing.

[Slaterstogies]

modern marvels did an episode on tobacco the cigars compared to cigarettes is amazing. cigar smokers only face the chance of mouth cancer. we are 8x more likely to get it then a non smoker, but what are the chances of a non smoker getting mouth cancer? highly unlikely so 8 may sound big nut its actually not. a cigar is 100% natural and cigarettes are only50% fresh tobacco the other 25% is the tabacco swept up from floors at factories and the other25% are outdated cigarettes that dont sell at stores so they are recalled and sent back to the factory and put into new cigarettes. also all the tabacco is run through machines that make the nicotine in cigarettes concentrated and then masked so they are addicted and smokable