I found this in the local paper today. I'd be interested to see what you guys thought of it.
http://www.philly.com/philly/health/Assessing_your_cancer_risk.html?cmpid=131298209
True or false: Cigars are a 'safe' alternative to cigarettes
False. Many people perceive cigar smoking as safer than cigarettes because most cigar smokers do not inhale while smoking. The truth is, cigars have higher levels of carcinogens and nicotine.
The facts:
◦Cigars are particularly dangerous due to the process of aging and fermenting the tobacco, which creates carcinogenic compounds (such as tar, carbon monoxide and ammonia) in cigar smoke in much higher levels than found in cigarette smoke. One large cigar can contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes.
◦The amount of nicotine is higher in a cigar (1 to 2 milligrams in a cigarette versus up to 400 milligrams in a single cigar). Since this nicotine is quickly absorbed in the saliva, the addiction to cigars is just as strong as to cigarettes.
◦Smokers' saliva contains the chemicals from the tobacco smoke, exposing the mouth, lips, tongue and throat to these carcinogens. Although lung cancer rates are lower in cigar smokers, cancers of the mouth, nose and throat are more often seen in this group.
Learn more about the cancer risk associated with cigars on OncoLink, a cancer information Web site developed by experts at the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center. Find out more about your overall cancer risk by completing OncoLink’s What’s My Risk? assessment.
http://www.philly.com/philly/health/Assessing_your_cancer_risk.html?cmpid=131298209
True or false: Cigars are a 'safe' alternative to cigarettes
False. Many people perceive cigar smoking as safer than cigarettes because most cigar smokers do not inhale while smoking. The truth is, cigars have higher levels of carcinogens and nicotine.
The facts:
◦Cigars are particularly dangerous due to the process of aging and fermenting the tobacco, which creates carcinogenic compounds (such as tar, carbon monoxide and ammonia) in cigar smoke in much higher levels than found in cigarette smoke. One large cigar can contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes.
◦The amount of nicotine is higher in a cigar (1 to 2 milligrams in a cigarette versus up to 400 milligrams in a single cigar). Since this nicotine is quickly absorbed in the saliva, the addiction to cigars is just as strong as to cigarettes.
◦Smokers' saliva contains the chemicals from the tobacco smoke, exposing the mouth, lips, tongue and throat to these carcinogens. Although lung cancer rates are lower in cigar smokers, cancers of the mouth, nose and throat are more often seen in this group.
Learn more about the cancer risk associated with cigars on OncoLink, a cancer information Web site developed by experts at the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center. Find out more about your overall cancer risk by completing OncoLink’s What’s My Risk? assessment.
Last edited:
