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Cigars vs. Cigarettes: Which is worse for Your Health?
Most everyone has heard about the health risks of smoking both cig
ars and cigarettes, and the dangers of secondhand smoke. But whic
h is worse? Do cigar smokers really have the advantage over cigar
ettes smokers? The answer is much more complicated than anyone ev
er thought.
A Matter of Degree
Research from the National Cancer Institute indicates that the healt
h risks posed by both cigarettes and cigars are strongly linked to f
requency of use. That is, it's not whether you smoke cigarettes or
cigars, but how much and how often you consume them. Individuals wh
o smoke cigarettes on a daily basis are at a greater risk of develop
ing cancer than people who smoke the occasional cigar. That said, e
vidence indicates that cigars contain many more carcinogens than cig
arettes. It also appears that cigar smoke is more toxic than cigare
tte secondhand smoke. Much of this is due to the fact that cigars a
re bigger than cigarettes, and thus produce more smoke.
To Inhale or Not?
Debate has also concentrated on the issue of inhaling nicotine from
cigars and cigarettes. Dedicated cigar enthusiasts argue that cigar
s are less dangerous than cigarettes because they don't require you
to inhale as much toxins. The National Cancer Institute's research
indicates that both cigar and cigarette smokers are exposed to carci
nogens, regardless of whether they inhale or not. Even without inha
ling, smokers are still exposing their mouths, tongues, larynxes, an
d throats to carcinogens. In fact, simply holding an unlit cigar or
cigarette between your lips can expose you to carcinogens. Further
more, when saliva comes in contact with a cigar or cigarette, even m
omentarily, carcinogens are swallowed. When carcinogens are swallow
ed, the throat, larynx, and esophagus further become exposed to thes
e toxins and irritants. Cigarette and cigar smokers appear to swall
ow similar amounts of carcinogens, resulting in approximately the sa