Lighting up a Cuban could be more lethal than you think: Cigar smokers are at risk of dying from many of the same diseases that affect people who puff on cigarettes, suggests research recently published in BMC Public Health.
The researchers reviewed 22 studies on cigar smoking and mortality, and found that people who smoked only cigars–no other tobacco product–were more likely to die prematurely of any cause than nonsmokers were.
Even those who reported they didn't inhale the cigar smoke still experienced an increased risk of death caused by oral, laryngeal, and esophageal cancer.
You might fire up a celebratory stogie on special occasions and think it's relatively safe–compared to cigarettes, at least–but “research has shown that whether cigar smokers realize it or not, they are likely to inhale some tobacco smoke,” says Cindy M. Chang Ph.D., M.P.H, lead review author and epidemiologist at the Center for Tobacco Products, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Plus, even if you do your best to blow the smoke out immediately, your mouth still absorbs its harmful substances the moment you take a drag, says Chang.
Cigar smoke has been shown to have higher levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines–which can lead to lung and oral cancers–than cigarette smoke. You also suck in higher levels of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide, both of which can contribute to the development of heart disease, says Chang.
Despite the dangers, recent stats suggest more and more people may be falling for the misconception that cigars are safer than cigarettes: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consumption of cigars in the U.S. more than doubled from 2000 to 2011. At the same time, cigarette use shrunk by 33 percent.
Your best bet: Stub out all smokes. While the researchers didn't assess the risks associated with social cigar smoking, even the rare stogie with your buddies bears some level of harm to your body, Chang says.
Here's how to kick your killer habit and Quit Smoking for Good.
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