In a message dated 7/29/2001 10:41:17 AM Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


>
> Where are there studies showing this?
>
> Cigarettes are deliberately inhaled into the lungs, and contain hosts of
> chemical additives. Cigars are not inhaled deliberately and are usually
> plain tobacco. There are many long lived cigar and pipe smokers and some
> life insurance companies do not penalize them with higher rates, although
> cigarette smokers pay much higher life insurance rates.
>
>

I don't have any specific studies to cite...but from personal experience I
foolishly experimented with cigars many years ago...they were extremely
addictive and it is almost impossible to have all that smoke in your mouth
and not breath some of it in. I could feel it in my lungs. Most people I used
to know that smoked them always breathed in a little.
I was hooked on cigars in less than a week. They are very strong. The
nicotine is absorbed in the mouth tissues. When I stopped puffing them after
a couple of months I experienced severe withdrawal, way worse than cigarettes.
I have seen many old folks with mouth lesions, severe gum problems, jaw
replacements etc. that smoked cigars, chewed tobacco, the old ways of using
tobacco. I don't have facts/studies to cite, but from what I have read, it is
nicotine and other chemicals absorbed into the blood that may promote heart
disease.

Growing up in North Carolina I saw commercial tobacco grown all around and
saw what they do to this stuff.  Probably similar treatment is carried out in
other countries that produce cigars.Maybe worse stuff since their controls
may be more lax than the U.S. The stuff they put on tobacco is unbelievable.
The chemicals used are many..I have seen birds fall dead out of the trees
after farmers sprayed the tobacco. If you can find an "organic" cigar maybe
it wouldn't be as bad. I wouldn't smoke 'em. No smoking anything for me, not
even meat. :)