Cigars are composed of a type of fermented and dried tobacco that is tightly rolled and then ignited to inhale the smoke. Cigars are similar to cigarettes and contain many of the same chemical compounds that are dangerous to your overall health. Cigar smoking often mistakenly is considered a safe alternative to cigarette smoking, but no tobacco product is safe, according to the National Cancer Institute. Understanding the chemical compounds in cigar smoke can help you make important decisions about your health.
Nicotine
Nicotine is one of the chemical compounds found in cigars and tobacco products. Nicotine is a colorless liquid that changes to brown in color when burned. It is considered highly addictive. Once inhaled, nicotine enters the bloodstream and brain within seconds, creating relaxing and slightly euphoric feelings that often are short-lived until the next hit of nicotine enters the body. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center explains that cigars contain more than 4,000 chemicals, including nicotine, that increase your risk for lung cancer, heart disease and chronic breathing problems.
Carbon Monoxide
Lighting up a cigar can distribute harmful chemical compounds throughout your lungs and cardiovascular system. One of the most harmful chemicals is carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that often is found in gas and fuel but also exists in trace amounts in cigars, explains the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Carbon monoxide can lead to shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue and headache. Over time, it can contribute to respiratory failure and other lung-related illnesses.
Cadmium
Cadmium is a chemical that is metal-based. Cigars contain five to 10 times more cadmium than cigarettes, reports eMedTv. Cadmium exposure contributes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer of the tongue, lip, mouth, throat, larynx and esophagus. Secondhand smoke from a cigar allows the same deadly chemicals and poisons to enter your lungs as well as the person smoking the cigar.
Hydrocarbon
Chemical compounds found in cigar smoke also include a specific hydrocarbon called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, a cancer-causing chemical that damages DNA and p53 – a type of gene that protects against cancer, explains Cancer Research UK. When you smoke cigars and inhale the smoke, you are increasing your risk for developing many kinds of cancer.
