Health Risks & Benefits of Smoking Cigars
Sure we’re all aware of the health perils related with smoking, but is cigar smoking just as dangerous, or worse, than smoking cigarettes? Well, scientific research done by the National Cancer Institute has been connected with a variety of cancers of the throat, lungs, voice box, and esophagus. Newer investigation also indicates that cigar smoking may be powerfully connected with the development of cancer in the pancreas. Lung disease and heart complaints are elements to think about as cigar smokers are at much higher risk of developing these conditions, according to doctors.
The health threats of cigar smoking appear to increase dramatically in those individuals who smoke regularly and inhale while smoking. Someone who smokes three to four cigars each day will be eight times more likely of developing some kind of oral cancer than a nonsmoker. Smoking the occasional cigar is still undetermined, however, it does seem clear that smoking cigars on a daily basis will pose a serious risk to your health.
Are cigars as addictive as cigarettes, and if so, why are so many people addicted to cigarettes as opposed to cigars? In fact, any tobacco product can become addictive because of the fact that it contains an addictive substance, nicotine. You only have to witness the effects of smokeless tobacco on individuals to see this. Smokeless tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco are just as addictive as cigarettes, because they contain nicotine as well. Many cigar smokers do not inhale deeply, thus causing the nicotine to be inhaled superficially. Most cigarette smokers do inhale deeply, however, which causes the nicotine to be absorbed much faster by the lungs. Even though most cigar smokers inhale the nicotine more superficially, it is still possible to become addicted if the user smokes cigars on a regular basis.
Why don’t cigar smokers smoke less often if nicotine is so addictive? It appears that for several reasons smokers become less addicted to cigars. The most obvious reason of course is that the nicotine is inhaled much more superficially than it is in regular cigarette smoking, resulting in less nicotine being absorbed by the body. Also, cigars are not as readily accessible as cigarettes and are still viewed by most as a luxury item, saved for special occasions and used infrequently. However, if frequency of use increases, cigars can become just as addictive as cigarettes, and will actually pose increased health risks to the user in comparison to cigarettes.
