There are no buts about it – smoking is bad
for you. We all know that, but for those who crave a smoke
every once in
a while, is there a less harmful option between cigars and cigarettes?
There are many myths regarding the differences between these two smoking
options. In this article, we’ll set the record straight.
Differences Between Cigars And Cigarettes
To figure out whether cigars or cigarettes are worse for your health,
it’s important to first understand the differences between these two
smoking options. The following are some of the key differences between
cigars and cigarettes:
- Size: Cigars are much larger than cigarettes, with some measuring over 7 inches in length.
- Time: Since cigars are so much larger than
cigarettes, they take longer to smoke. With larger cigars, it takes
about 1 to 2 hours to smoke one. Cigarettes are generally smoked in less
than 10 minutes.
- Filters: Most cigars do not have filters, while cigarettes do.
- Inhaling: Those who smoke cigarettes inhale the
smoke into their lungs. Cigar smokers generally do not inhale the smoke;
they let it sit in their mouth and throat instead.
- Tobacco types: Cigarettes are made from different
blends of unfermented tobaccos. Cigars, on the other hand, are made from
a single type of fermented and air-cured tobacco.
- Tobacco amounts: Cigarettes generally contain less than 1 gram of tobacco each. A cigar typically contains about 5 to 20 grams of tobacco.
- Wrapper: Cigars have less porous wrappers than cigarettes, which makes the burning of the tobacco inside less complete.
- Tar: Cigars have more tar per gram of tobacco smoked when compared to cigarettes.
Possible Dangers
The differences between cigars and cigarettes listed above account
for many of the reasons that cigars are actually worse for you than
cigarettes in most cases. First of all, the ingredients in cigars are in
such larger quantities that many cigar smokers don’t realize the
impact. For example, it could take 15 to 20 cigarettes to equal the same
amount of tobacco in one large cigar. Therefore, regular cigar smokers
often don’t realize that their habit could be the equivalent of smoking a
pack a day – or more.
(If you’re trying to kick the habit, read
Tips On How To Quit Smoking As Soon As Possible.)
Secondly, the size of the cigar accounts for much more exposure to
second-hand cigar smoke. In addition to the cigar smoke that goes inside
a smoker’s mouth and throat, many of these individuals sit in a cigar
smoke-filled area for an hour or more while they smoke. In addition to
that, it can take hours for that smoke to dissipate inside someone’s
home. This second-hand smoke contains dozens of cancer-causing
chemicals, some of which occur in higher quantities than in cigarette
smoke. This is partially due to the cigars’ nonporous wrappers which
lead to an increase in toxin concentration.
The process by which cigars are made also makes them a health hazard.
The fermentation process used for cigar tobacco leads to high
concentrations of nitrosamines, which can cause cancer.
Despite this information, cigarettes are just as bad for you. Both
cigars and cigarettes can cause numerous types of cancer, including
cancer of the lungs, mouth, tongue and esophagus. In addition, oral
diseases such as gum disease may occur as the result of smoking.
Cardiovascular diseases like heart disease, coronary artery disease,
COPD and emphysema are much more common among smokers than non-smokers.
Myths About Cigars
Many cigarette smokers try smoking cigars because they believe they
are less harmful. However, most of the myths about cigars aren’t true.
For example:
- Cigars aren’t addictive. Cigars contain high levels
of nicotine, which is the chemical that causes addiction. You can still
get nicotine in your system even if you don’t inhale the smoke into
your lungs because it is also absorbed through the lining in the mouth.
- Not inhaling makes them safer. Cigar smokers
usually don’t inhale the smoke. However, that just means that they are
more likely to get cancer in their lips, mouth, tongue or throat instead
of in their lungs. The health risks still exist and the smoker is still
exposed to cancer-causing chemicals.
- Cigars don’t have Surgeon General’s health warnings, so they are safer. Unfortunately,
cigars are not regulated in the same way as cigarettes. Many are sold
without any health warning label, particularly those which are imported.
This lack of regulations can actually lead to cigars being more
hazardous to your health than cigarettes.
It’s important to remember that, even if cigars are often worse for
your health compared to cigarettes, neither of these smoking options are
good for you. Both products are highly addictive and there is no safe
level of tobacco use. There are several ways you can get help to quit
smoking, including the Cancer.gov website (link below).
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