Are cigars safer than cigarettes?
Straight Fact
Cigars are known to have the same dangerous health effects as cigarettes.
Unfiltered Answer
Smoking cigars can have long-term health effects like cancer, heart disease and death. Along with lung cancer, cigars can also cause throat cancer, mouth cancer and more.[1]
While cigars aren’t always inhaled into the lungs, they are often larger or more potent than cigarettes. That means they can contain more tobacco and more nicotine. They are not a safe alternative to cigarettes.
Is secondhand cigar smoke dangerous?
Straight Fact
Yes.
Unfiltered Answer
Data suggests that secondhand cigar smoke is even more dangerous than secondhand cigarette smoke. Since cigars are larger, they give off higher levels of some toxins than other tobacco products.[2]
Are cigarillos safer than cigars?
Straight Fact
No.
What about flavored cigarillos?
Straight Fact
No. Some could argue flavored cigarillos are even more dangerous.
Unfiltered Answer
Flavored tobacco products impact Black people and young people even more. Black people who smoke make up 85% of menthol cigarette users and nearly 74% of teens say they smoke cigars because of certain flavors.[4] Tobacco companies know this and advertise their products to take advantage of certain people and minorities.
Do teens really smoke cigars?
Straight Fact
Yes.
Unfiltered Answer
Nearly 1,400 teens try cigars for the first time every day.[1] Also, many high school boys smoke cigars as cigarettes.