However, an increased awareness of the ill effects of ETS has shown that cigar smokers who do not inhale are still at risk. Risk is dose-related with individuals smoking four or more cigars at greatest risk. There is also thought to be a synergistic relationship between cigar smoking and alcohol consumption that leads to a greater risk of oropharyngeal cancers and cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract. According to one study, individuals who have trouble quitting cigarettes, but still hope to improve their health by switching to cigars, will experience a 46 percent lower risk than if they had continued with cigarettes. However, they have a 68 percent higher risk of dying from lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, or chronic obstructive lung disease than those who have never smoked.
More research is needed to ascertain the potential harm caused by pipe smoking.
Marijuana, which is associated more closely with drug usage than traditional tobacco smoking, has been shown to increase a person's risk of heart attack by nearly fivefold in the first hour after smoking it. All rights reserved. Before accessing or using HeartInfo, please read our Disclaimer and Privacy Policy . By using or accessing HeartInfo, you agree to be bound by the terms of the Disclaimer .