Why Cigars are Killing You

Cigars have conventionally been associated with luxury and relaxation, celebrating occasions-to such an extent that-from Hollywood movies down to high-profile social functions-cigars appear almost to be ritualistic proof of one's culture and finally accomplished success.

Behind that glitz-and-glamour snapshot, though, lies so much more reality. Cigars are more than harmless indulgences; they can become dangerous and may severely affect your health.

This article discusses the hidden dangers of cigar smoking and certain reasons why it could kill you.

What's Really in Cigars?

Cigars, like cigarettes, are primarily manufactured from fermented and dried tobacco leaves but are much larger in size, containing much more tobacco.

In fact, a single cigar can contain as much tobacco as a whole pack of cigarettes. Because of this, the concentration levels of injurious chemicals and toxins to which the smoker of cigars is exposed can be much higher.

In smoking a cigar, you are not only inhaling tobacco but also preservatives and additives in the process.

The additives include ammonia, formaldehyde, and hydrogen cyanide. These lead to cancer, as well as other serious health problems.

Nicotine Addiction: A Major Health Risk

High nicotine content is one of the worst risks of cigars. Nicotine is an addictive substance that is found in all tobacco products and is found in large amounts in cigars.

In fact, one cigar contains as much as 100 to 200 milligrams of nicotine, as opposed to just about 10 milligrams in one cigarette. With such high nic content, a person can get addicted to it even on an occasional smoking habit.

Nicotine addiction is not just a habit; it is a serious health condition that might lead to a lot of complications.

Nicotine affects your brain and nervous system, increasing heart rate, raising blood pressure, and the likelihood of heart disease.

Long-term nicotine addiction can cause anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders.

The Cancer Link: A Fatal Aftermath

Cigar smoking significantly leads to different types of cancers; hence, one of the deadliest consequences of this habit. Some of the cancers associated with cigar smoking include:

• Lung Cancer: Even though a lot of people who smoke cigars do not inhale deeply, they can also be victims of lung cancer. The smoke of cigars contains high levels of carcinogens which may damage the lungs over time.
• Oral Cancers: Cigar smokers are at a heightened risk for oral cancers, such as but not limited to those affecting the lips, tongue, mouth, and throat. The tendency of cancerous cells to develop may be directly due to the direct contact of tobacco smoke with the delicate tissues of the mouth.
• Esophageal Cancer: The esophagus is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. Cigar smoking can increase the risk of getting cancer in this part of the body, particularly for people who are heavy drinkers too.
• Pancreatic Cancer: Studies have identified that cigar smoking increases the risk of getting pancreatic cancer, one of the most dangerous types of cancer with very low survival rates.

Respiratory Problems: More Than Just a Cough

Smoking cigars may cause severe respiratory problems even if you do not inhale deeply. Cigar smoke is much thicker and denser than that of cigarettes; it thus causes more significant irritation to the air passage.

This may lead to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other respiratory diseases.

Prolonged cigar smoking most often results in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, generally referred to as COPD. COPD is a category of lung diseases that make it tough for someone to breathe and can deeply affect your quality of life.

Symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, and chronic cough, which may increase in severity and result in potentially life-threatening complications .

Heart Conditions: The Silent Killers

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, to which cigar smoking greatly contributes. The chemicals in cigars can, over a certain period of time, damage blood vessels by setting an initiating process for plaque buildup in the arteries.

Eventually, this can lead to a condition called atherosclerosis-an outcome where arteries become narrow and rigid, making blood flow to the heart difficult.

This reduces the blood flow to the heart, which can lead to angina, or chest pain, and heart attacks. Cigar smoking can also increase the risk for strokes because it reduces the blood flow to the brain. Heart attacks and strokes can be lethal events, or they could leave one severely incapacitated.

Secondhand Smoke: Putting Others at Risk

Not only is the smoker in danger, but those people surrounding the smoker are in a dangerous position due to the smoke coming off the cigar. Many chemicals and toxins pass through secondhand smoke from a cigar, similar to the smoke being directly inhaled into the smoker.

These nonsmokers who will eventually be around cigar smoke may run a risk of developing the same health problems previously mentioned-cancerous disease, heart disease, and respiratory issues.

Children, especially, are sensitive to secondhand smoke, along with pregnant women. Due to pregnancy, exposure to cigar smoke can lead to complications like low birth weight, premature birth, and even still birth. Some children that are exposed to second hand smoke increase the risk of asthma, ear infections, and even SIDS.

The Myth of Safety: Filtered Cigars and "Light" Cigars

Some cigar smokers mistakenly believe that filtered cigars or "light" cigars are safer. This is a false sense of security because those products may contain a bit less tobacco or nicotine but still have many toxic chemicals and carry the same health risks as regular cigars.

FILTERED CIGARS are also advertised as a healthier product, but the reality is that you are still being exposed to high levels of carcinogens and other toxic substances. The filter does little, if anything at all, in really reducing the harmful effects of smoke; sometimes it can even make the smoke more concentrated and dangerous.

Quitting Cigars: The Best Decision for Your Health

Of course, it is definite that cigar smoking is hazardous, and the best protection for your health is to quit. It may be difficult to stop cigars especially when a person has become dependent on nicotine; however, this can be done with the proper support and resources available.

Approaches that can help you to stop smoking include nicotine replacement, prescription medications, and behavioral counseling-many times in combination.

On top of reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems, quitting cigars generally improves the quality of your life. You will instantly feel a big difference in breathing, more energy, and lowered probability of developing serious health conditions in the future.

Conclusion

Many people tend to consider cigars as a harmless, fun way to relax and enjoy life. The truth can be quite opposite: they are ultra-hazardous and can bring one's health to a critical point due to cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems. They are no small risks taken with cigar smoking.

The time has come to take a fresh look at smoking cigars. In other words, get real and take concrete steps to quit. Your health and the health of those who remain around you depend on it. As someone has so aptly said, "The only safe Cigar is the one you don't smoke.".

Jay's smoke Shop is a one stop shop for smoking products and smoking accessories in Massachusetts.