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.
When compared with cigarette smokers, however, cigar smokers are just as likely to develop cancer of the mouth, throat and larynx. While it is true that cigarette smokers are more likely than cigar smokers to develop lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease, cigar smokers are at many times greater risk for these diseases than people who do not use tobacco. Smokeless Tobacco Smokeless tobacco includes both chewing tobacco and snuff. Swallowing the nicotine-filled saliva would make the user ill. The labels warn users that smokeless tobacco is not a healthy alternative to cigarettes and that it may cause gum disease and cancer of the mouth.