How Are Cigars Bad For You?

As cigars become more popular, often seen as a stylish lifestyle choice, many wonder: Are cigars bad for you even if done occasionally? Despite their association with luxury, the health impacts of cigars raise essential questions. While their smoky aroma and rich flavors are appealing, cigars contain carcinogens, chemicals, and nicotine in higher concentrations than cigarettes. So, what risks do they pose to the body, from cancers to chronic illnesses? This blog informs you of the emerging medical Facts on the outcomes of occasional and regular cigar smoking, aiming for an honest assessment of their impact on your health in the short and long term. Hence, it is essential to understand the implications of cigars on your well-being.

Do Cigars Have Nicotine?

The nicotine content varies significantly based on many factors, such as the type of tobacco, the size of a cigar, and the manufacturing process.

• According to one study, cigars have nicotine between 8.79-15.4 mg per gram. In general, a typical cigar contains 25-600 mg of nicotine or more.
• Even though cigars are not inhaled like cigarettes, substantial nicotine is still absorbed by the lining of the mouth. Sufficient to potentially make you dependent.
• Certain cigar types with darker tobacco leaves, like Maduro wrappings, tend to have the highest nicotine concentrations.
• While the most significant risk with cigarettes comes from inhaling burning chemicals, cigars mainly pose threats from nicotine overdose, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and vasoconstriction.

Are Cigars Bad For You Than Cigarettes?

Yes, cigars are worse than cigarettes. Smoking cigars leads to the risk of nicotine dependence. It exposes you to the following ingredients:

• Nicotine: Like cigarettes, cigars consist of nicotine, a substance that can lead to addiction to tobacco. Through a single full-size cigar, you can inhale nicotine as much as it is in a pack of cigarettes. Even if you don’t inhale intentionally, there is a possibility of a high amount of nicotine absorption through the lining of the mouth or nose.
• Secondhand Smoke: The toxic chemical level from secondhand smoke of cigars is the same as that of secondhand smoke. This smoke can cause severe health issues like heart disorders and lung cancer. Additionally, it raises the risk of ear infections, asthma, and upper and lower respiratory problems in kids.

Can cigars cause cancer?

How bad cigars are for you can be identified by considering the various health risks associated with cigar smoking. Yes, regular cigar smoking leads to multiple types of cancers like lung, oral cavity, esophagus, pancreas, larynx, oral diseases, etc.

Even if you don’t inhale smoke, do cigars cause lung cancer? Yes, all the tobacco smoke from cigars contains toxic chemicals that can cause cancer. Smoking cigars regularly raises the risk of different types of cancers like throat, mouth, larynx, and esophagus. Oral cancer like lips, throat, mouth, and tongue can happen with a smoke touch.

Cigars contain fermented and air-cured tobacco. It means that during the manufacturing process, a high content of nitrites and nitrates in tobacco releases Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Generally, these TSNAs are highly carcinogenic substances that can cause health complications when taken in.

What are the other side effects of cigars?

Here are the common side effects of drinking cigars excessively:

1. Heart Disorders

Regular cigar smoking also contributes to heart diseases, affecting the functioning of the heart. It may cause heart problems, including coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes. It gives the same effect as using another form of tobacco products.

About 1/3rd of the death reports are from various heart disorders which are because of cigar smoking. Also, according to one research, the use of cigars showed nearly 200,000 cardiovascular disease and cancer cases in people aged 35 or above.

2. Oral Diseases

Cigarette smoking is also linked to dental and oral health issues like tooth loss, gum diseases, bad breath, stained teeth, etc. Regular consumption of cigars for an extended period can lead to high risks.

Cigar smoke inhalation weakens the immune system, which leads to difficulty in fighting against gum diseases or infection. Once an individual undergoes gum damage, smoking blocks the process of gum healing.

3. Lung Diseases

Heavy inhalation of cigar smoke can lead to the risk of lung disorders like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This condition refers to emphysema and chronic bronchitis arising from lung damage, making breathing difficult. Additionally, smoking cigars can worsen asthma.

4. Pregnancy Complications

The use of cigars can be harmful during pregnancy. According to one information series, smoking such toxic products can lead to severe risks. Those include premature birth, stillbirth, low birth weight, sudden death of infants, etc.

The more cigars you consume, the more deeply you inhale smoke. This, as a result, will lead to more significant health risks. This shows how cigars are bad for you in extreme doses.

5. Poor Erectile Dysfunction

Bad lifestyle choices like smoking cigars can cause damage to the blood vessels of male sexual organs and lower blood flow. This can lead to poor erectile dysfunction which is marked by an incapability to get or maintain an erection firm.

Also Read: How to Cure Erectile Dysfunction?

Cigars vs. Cigarettes: Which is Worse?

Cigars and cigarettes both have a different level of nicotine.

Cigars

It usually comprise a single type of fermented and air-cured tobacco. According to the study, the amount of smoking in them is between 1 to 20 grams. They also contain a tobacco wrapper and vary in shape and size.

Generally, there are three cigar sizes:

1. Large cigars

They typically have tobacco amounts between 5 and 20 grams and are over 7 inches long. Some premium cigars consist of tobacco as much as that of a complete pack of cigarettes. Large cigars can take 1 to 2 hours to smoke if they do not have a filter

2. Cigarillos

These cigars are more significant than little cigars and cigarettes. Typically, they contain nearly 3 grams of tobacco and do not have a filter.

3. Little cigars

The size and shape of these cigars are the same as that of cigarettes. Also, their packaging is like cigarettes only, that is, 20 little cigars in a single package. The amount of tobacco in them is about 1 gram. Also, some little cigars have a filter.

Cigarettes

All cigarettes are even in size, each with less than 1 g of tobacco. Typically, U.S. cigarettes are produced using different combinations of smoking, which go through no fermentation. They are wrapped with paper and take less than 10 minutes to smoke.

Are Cigars Addictive?

Yes, cigars are addictive! Even if you do not inhale the smoke, your body can still absorb the high nicotine level. The nicotine can be delivered in two ways. Either, you can breathe it into the lungs or absorb it through the lining of the mouth. Both ways can make you addicted to nicotine. The quantity of nicotine in a single cigar is as much as that of a pack of cigarettes.

Is Having A Single Cigar In A Year Bad?

Smoking even a single cigar in a year is still toxic for your health. Though occasionally having a cigar seems non-addictive as compared to regular habit, it’s essential to know its tobacco content. Tobacco smoke has contaminated chemicals like nicotine and tar which can make you severely addicted. So, having no cigars is a safe option.

How To Quit Smoking Cigars?

Regular consumption of nicotine through smoking a cigar can lead to extreme addiction. Consulting medical professionals can help you quit it. They will come out with some plans and strategies that are:

• Nicotine replacement, like gum, lozenges, patches, inhalers, and nasal sprays.
• prescription medications like varenicline and bupropion
• Behavior counseling includes strategies to handle cravings, address stress, and change smoking-related behaviors.
• Activity engagement like swimming, walking, running, and dancing that makes the mind and hands occupied. This helps distract from cigar cravings and boredom.

Summing Up

There is no unhealthy form of tobacco. Smoking cigars isn’t a safe alternative to cigarettes. Even weekly cigar smoking can put your health at numerous risk. From increasing lung cancer to rising heart disease, this tobacco product can impact your health. Therefore, you need to stop smoking cigars as soon as possible. Seeking medical advice can help you quit smoking and improve your health.

Frequently Asked Questions