Smoking a pipe is associated with leisure and sophistication. There is a misconception that it is safe, but it has significant health risks. Although smoking a pipe is not quite as dangerous as smoking cigarettes, it does carry the same risks as cigar smoking, according to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Pipe smokers are at a higher risk for many serious diseases than are non-smokers, and they face the highest risk for oral cancer among smokers.
Oral Cancer
Tobacco use is the biggest risk factor in developing oral cancer. Tobacco contains many toxins that damage the cells of the mouth. Smokers of any type--whether cigarette, pipe or cigar--face six times the risk of oral cancer than non-smokers, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Smokers that use alcohol are at higher risk. Oral cancer can affect the lips, inside of the cheeks, floor or roof of the mouth, tongue, sinuses and throat.
Bladder Cancer
Smoking is the greatest risk factor for bladder cancer, which is the fifth most common type of cancer in the U.S. All smokers, including pipe smokers, are twice as likely to develop bladder cancer than are non-smokers, MD Anderson Cancer Center says. Each year, approximately 12,000 people die of the disease.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Pipe smokers are at risk for lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is a progressive, destructive disease, and a major cause of death. Although pipe smokers commonly believe they do not inhale and therefore are not at risk for these diseases, research has proven otherwise. A study by Josanna Rodriguez, M.D., and colleagues, published in the the Feb.16, 2010 issue of the journal "Annals of Internal Medicine," found that pipe smokers do inhale, although only 20 percent as much as cigarette smokers do. The study shows that pipe smokers have twice the chance of developing COPD than those who do not smoke.
Cardiovascular Disease
The risk of death from heart disease and stroke seems to be higher for pipe smokers than for non-smokers, according to the American Heart Association. The risk is lower for pipe smokers than for cigarette smokers. Not much research exists on the link between cardiovascular disease and pipe smoking, the AHA says.
References
- Annals of Internal Medicine: The Association of Pipe and Cigar Use with Cotinine Levels, Lung Function and Airflow Obstruction: a Cross-sectional Study
- Southwestern Medical Center: Health Watch Pipe Smoking
- MD Anderson Cancer Center: Bladder Cancer
- Cleveland Clinic: Oral Cancer
- American Heart Association: Cigarette Smoking and Cardiovascular Diseases
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