However, the amounts of these substances present in cigar smoke are different than in cigarette smoke. The result is that daily cigar smoking carries significant health risks. There is also evidence which strongly suggests that cigar smoking is associated with cancer of the pancreas. Cancer risks increase with the number of cigars smoked per day. There are differences in the patterns of cigar and cigarette use.
Most cigarette smokers smoke every day and inhale.
In contrast, as many as three-quarters of cigar smokers smoke only occasionally, and some may smoke only a few cigars per year. The majority of cigar smokers do not inhale. Inhalation, however, does have a strong effect on disease risk. Cigar smokers are also at increased risk for heart and lung disease compared to nonsmokers. However, compared to cigarette smokers, cigar smokers have lower risks for cancer of the larynx and lung as well as heart and lung disease.