Sadly, in today’s society, there is so much anti-cigarette advertising and so little anti-cigar advertising that it’s a natural assumption to believe they have different health side effects. Sure, they might have similar physical features, but, since we hear so much about how cigarettes can kill – is it so crazy that people actually think there are health differences between cigars and cigarettes?
Cigars are filled with cut tobacco wrapped in leaf tobacco or a tobacco product. Cigarettes are basically rolls of tobacco wrapped in paper. They both contain tobacco – the cause of cancer – and they all have nicotine – the cause of addiction and dependency. When you smoke a cigar, you’re only supposed to suck the smoke into your mouth then blow the smoke out. On the other hand, cigarettes are fumed into the lungs.
After reading all of this, it might still seem that cigars are safer than cigarettes. However, further review clearly indicates otherwise. Below, you’ll find four reasons why cigars are not healthier to smoke than cigarettes.
Cigars contain much more tobacco than cigarettes.
Probably the biggest and most important difference between cigars and cigarettes is the amount of nicotine present in each. While both contain nicotine, the substance responsible for tobacco dependence, cigars contain much more nicotine than several cigarettes. While you don’t usually inhale when you puff cigars, its nicotine content is enough to enter the lining of your mouth. Moreover, this often causes oral disease such as gum disease and gum loss.
Cigar smokers are more prone to developing cancer.
Tobacco or cigar smoking also makes the consumer more prone to cancer. Tobacco smokes have been found to have at least 60 chemicals that can cause cancer, and this is not limited to merely lung cancer. One cigar consumer is at risk of getting mouth, lip, tongue, throat, esophagus and larynx cancers. But don’t get me wrong; this does not mean smoking cigarettes will not increase your risk of cancer. It just means that since cigars have more tobacco, they are more hazardous.
Cigar users are more at risk of developing cardio vascular diseases.
Meanwhile, in terms of cardio vascular disease, it has been found that cigar smoking tends to increase the risk of developing heart and lung diseases. These include coronary heart disease, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
Cigars produce more secondhand smoke.
Finally, in terms of secondhand smoke, both cigars and cigarettes get the same score and contain the same toxic chemicals. However, since cigars burn for longer periods of time, they produce more secondhand smoke, and thus, can affect more people than regular cigarettes.
So to answer our statement of the problem, we have found out that cigarettes are healthier than cigars. Simply stated, the greater the intensity and frequency of cigar smoking, the greater the risks. If you’re thinking of switching from cigarettes to cigars because you believe cigars are safer, try to quit tobacco entirely instead — especially because cigarette smokers typically inhale the cigar smoke. Although occasional cigar smoking isn’t thought to be as risky as regular cigar smoking, the only safe level of smoking is not smoking at all.
About the author: Maria Dublin is an amazing content writer who stays up to date on major health issues and loves to update blog readers. She also uses her expertise to help companies like Women’s Workout and Wellness get their solutions in front of the right customers.