Here is what you need to know about cigars: their nicotine content, the amount of nicotine absorbed by cigar smokers compared to cigarette smokers, the toxicity and addictiveness of cigars compared to cigarettes, a comparison between the smoking behaviour of cigar smokers and cigarette smokers, and finally, whether cigars help people quit smoking cigarettes or reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day
🧪 Nicotine Content and Absorption
A cigar is a roll of fermented and dried tobacco leaves, wrapped in another tobacco leaf. They come in various sizes, from small “cigarillos” (which can resemble cigarettes) to large, premium cigars.
- High Nicotine Content:
- A single large cigar can contain as much nicotine as a whole pack of cigarettes (20 cigarettes). This can range from 100 to 200 milligrams (mg) of nicotine, with some larger cigars exceeding 500 mg.
- In contrast, an average cigarette contains about 10-12 mg of nicotine.
- Absorption in Cigar Smokers:
- Even if cigar smokers usually don’t inhale cigar smoke as deeply into their lungs as cigarette smokers, some nicotine is inhaled ans some is readily absorbed through the lining of the mouth. This means cigar smokers still get significant amounts of nicotine into their bloodstream, leading to addiction.
- For those who do inhale cigar smoke (especially people who switch from cigarettes or smoke smaller cigars), the nicotine absorption is even higher, similar to cigarette smokers.
☠️ Toxicity and Addictiveness Compared to Cigarettes
While the method of use differs, cigars are toxic and addictive, though the pattern of risk can vary.
- Toxicity:
- Like cigarettes, cigar smoke contains toxic and cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens). These include carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and cancer-causing nitrosamines.
- Oral Risks: Because the smoke is held in the mouth, cigar smoking significantly increases the risk of oral cancers (mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus), gum disease, and tooth loss.
- Lung Risks: While cigar smokers may inhale less deeply, many do inhale, especially those previously used to cigarettes. This leads to increased risks of lung cancer, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
- Heart Disease: The carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigar smoke also increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, just like with cigarettes.
- Secondhand Smoke: Cigar smoke contributes to secondhand smoke, exposing non-smokers to harmful chemicals.
- Addictiveness:
- Highly Addictive: The high nicotine content in cigars makes them just as addictive as cigarettes. Even if you don’t inhale, the nicotine absorbed through the mouth is enough to establish and maintain dependence.
- Withdrawal: Cigar smokers experience the same nicotine withdrawal symptoms (cravings, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, increased appetite and weight gain) when they try to quit.
💨 Smoking Behavior: Cigars vs. Cigarettes
There are typical differences in how people smoke cigars compared to cigarettes, though these aren’t universal.
- Cigarette Smokers: Tend to smoke many cigarettes throughout the day, often inhaling deeply and frequently. The goal is rapid nicotine delivery.
- Cigar Smokers:
- Less Frequent: Many cigar smokers may smoke fewer cigars per day or week compared to a cigarette smoker’s daily cigarette count.
- “Puffing” vs. Inhaling: Traditionally, cigar smokers tend to “puff” on the cigar and hold the smoke in their mouth, rather than inhaling into the lungs. However, this is not always the case, especially with smaller cigars or among former cigarette smokers.
- Longer Smoking Time: A single cigar can take 30 minutes to over an hour to smoke.
🛑 Can Cigars Help You Quit Cigarettes?
No, cigars do NOT help you quit smoking cigarettes or reduce your overall tobacco use.
- Maintaining Nicotine Addiction: Switching to cigars simply means you are replacing one form of nicotine and tobacco addiction with another. You are still exposing yourself to harmful chemicals and maintaining your dependence on nicotine.
- Dual use: Many people who try to switch to cigars end up becoming ‘dual users’, meaning they smoke both cigarettes and cigars. However, they absorb about the same amount of nicotine as when they smoked only cigarettes, and the health risks are roughly the same as those associated with smoking cigarettes exclusively.
- No Approved Cessation Aid: Health authorities and medical professionals do not recommend cigars as a method for quitting smoking.
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