Are cigars bad for you?

How are cigars and cigarettes different?

There are three main types of cigars. Each contains a different amount of tobacco. Here’s how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorizes each.

Large cigars: Contain between 5 and 20 grams of tobacco.

Cigarillos: Contain about 3 grams of tobacco.

Little cigars: Like a cigarette in size.

Cigars and cigarettes both have tobacco inside them, but they are packaged differently. Cigarette wrappers don't contain tobacco. Many cigar wrappers do contain tobacco, although little cigars and some brands of cigarillos don't.

Unlike cigarettes, which are only sold in tobacco or menthol flavors, flavored cigars can be purchased in most states. Flavored cigars are more popular choices than non-flavored cigars among youth and young adults.

But even though these products may have flavors that sound more dessert-like than dangerous, that’s not the case. Cigars contain many of the same harmful ingredients as cigarettes. In some cases, one cigar can singlehandedly contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes, the CDC writes.

Are cigars linked to the same health risks as cigarettes?

Yes. Many of the health risks of smoking cigars and cigarettes are the same. These include an increased risk of:

• Heart disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Cancers, including oral, esophageal, laryngeal and lung

People who only smoke cigars typically have somewhat fewer health risks than those who smoke traditional cigarettes. This may be because people who only smoke cigars may smoke less often. Additionally, cigar smoke usually isn’t inhaled into the lungs as deeply as cigarette smoke.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s safe to use cigars instead of cigarettes. For example, little cigars are taxed differently than cigarettes, making them cheaper. Because of this, some people smoke little cigars instead of traditional cigarettes. Because they are used like traditional cigarettes, little cigars pose the same risk as traditional cigarettes.

Are cigars linked to cancer risks?

Yes. Smoking cigars increases your risk for several cancers. These include:

• Oral cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Laryngeal cancer
• Lung cancer

Cigars, like cigarettes, release thousands of chemicals as they burn. Dozens of these chemicals are known to cause cancer. Smoking cigars increases your risk of cancer because you are exposed to cancer-causing chemicals in cigar smoke. This risk increases the more you are exposed.

Do cigars put you at risk for nicotine addiction?

Yes. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance found in tobacco products, including cigars.

People who only smoke cigars are typically exposed to less nicotine throughout the day than cigarette smokers. However, you can become dependent on nicotine if you smoke cigars regularly.

Many cigar smokers also use cigarettes. Using both cigarettes and cigars greatly increases your risk of nicotine dependence and health risks associated with smoking.

If you’re ready to quit smoking, there are resources available.

• If you’re an MD Anderson patient who would like to quit using tobacco products, our Tobacco Research and Treatment Program can help. Patients can access counseling and tobacco-cessation treatments at no cost.
• The National Institutes of Health Quitline provides phone and text support. Call 1-800-784-8669, text QUIT to 47848 or visit SmokeFree.gov.
• The Texas Tobacco Quitline supports Texans who’d like to quit any type of tobacco. Call 1-877-YES-QUIT or visit YesQuit.org.

Are there health risks if you only smoke cigars on special occasions?

Yes. Using any combustible tobacco product increases the health risks listed above.

The more often you smoke, the greater the health risks.

Imagine three people: one who never smokes, one who smokes cigars on special occasions and one who smokes every day. Of this group, the person who doesn’t smoke is at the lowest risk for tobacco-related cancers and heart disease. The person who smokes an occasional cigar has a greater risk of these health concerns than the person who never smokes. The person who smokes every day has the greatest health risk of the three.

Even if you only smoke cigars every so often, it is worse for your health than not smoking. The single best thing you can do for your health and the health of your loved ones is to stop using tobacco.

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.