- Inhalation Differences:
- Cigarettes: Smokers typically inhale deeply into the lungs, increasing exposure to harmful chemicals.
- Cigars: Cigar smokers do not inhale, resulting in less direct exposure to the lungs. However, some more experienced cigar users can retrohale, which will cause the smoke to pass through the nasal cavity and come into direct contact with the olfactory receptors.
- Frequency and Quantity:
- Cigarettes: Regular smokers often consume many cigarettes per day, on a regular basis, with intervals between each cigarette tending to be shorter over time.
- Cigars: Cigar smokers may smoke less frequently, in different quantities and with much higher intervals between each cigar
- Chemical Exposure:
- Cigarettes are known to contain various additives and chemicals that enhance flavor and shelf life. On the other hand, cigars also contain harmful substances, although they typically lack some of the specific additives found in cigarettes.
- Health Risks:
- Both smoking cigars and cigarettes increases the risk of various cancers, heart disease, and lung disease.
- Some studies suggest that the risk of lung cancer is lower for cigar smokers compared to cigarette smokers, primarily due to differences in inhalation.
Important Considerations
- Cigar smoking still poses significant risks for cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and larynx, especially if cigars are smoked regularly
- Some cigar smokers perceive cigars as less harmful due to less frequent smoking or because they do not inhale. However, this perception can lead to underestimating the actual risks.
- National Cancer Institute and The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that cigar smoking can cause cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, esophagus, and lung.
- Emphasizes that cigars are not a safe alternative to cigarettes.
- Highlights that even without inhaling, nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth, which can lead to nicotine addiction.
- Studies on Mortality Rates suggests lower overall mortality rates among cigar smokers compared to cigarette smokers, but this is contingent on smoking habits, such as frequency and depth of inhalation.
While some studies indicate that cigar smoking may be less harmful than cigarette smoking under certain conditions, it is not without significant health risks. Both forms of tobacco use pose serious health hazards, and the safest option is to avoid smoking altogether.
