Clove cigarettes can cause serious lung injury and respiratory illnesses in some users. For example, for users with early, nonspecific symptoms of respiratory illness, smoking clove cigarettes may lead to the development of pneumonia, bronchitis and bloody fluid in the lungs. Some lung problems also occur in those who have normal respiratory tracts and no signs of respiratory illness. These are caused in part by a chemical in cloves called eugenol, which acts as a throat anesthetic. The eugenol in clove cigarettes diminishes the gag reflex and increases the risk of pneumonia and other problems because smokers can unintentionally inhale fluid into the lungs.
Cigars contain significantly more nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide than do cigarettes.
Smoke from cigars contains 23 poisons and 43 cancer causing substances. Cigar smokers die 1.3 to 3.6 times more often from emphysema than do non-smokers. One cigar that is smoked in less than an hour can contain as much tobacco as a pack of cigarettes. Cigar manufacturers are not required to display health warnings or to submit a list of ingredients to the government. Many people believe that cigar and pipe smoking is relatively safe compared with cigarette smoking.