There is an overlying myth that Cigars are less harmful as cigarettes or chewing tobacco. Here are the cold hard facts:
4 Deadly Facts about Cigar smoking
- Cigar smoking is harmful. It contains more than 60 cancer causing chemicals such as arsenic, cyanide, polonium 210, chromium IV, aromatic hydrocarbons and benzene. Cigar smoking causes cancer of the lips, tongue, mouth, throat, voice box, and lungs.
- Cigar smoking in addicting. Even if you do not inhale the smoke, high levels of nicotine is still absorbed through the lining of the mouth. A single cigar can have as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes.
- Some people think that cigar smoke is safer because they don’t “inhale”. Even if not purposely inhaled, some gets down to the lungs and tissues. The lips, mouth, tongue and throat are still exposed to the cancer causing chemicals.
- Research shows that smoking cigars may be even more harmful than cigarettes. Cigar smoke is denser, that is, it contains a higher number of cancer-causing substances, more tar and a higher level of toxins. In addition most cigars are bigger than cigarettes, and it can take longer to smoke cigars. This results in more exposure to toxic substances.
Remember that there is no safe tobacco product and no safe level of tobacco smoke exposure.
