June 2007
Recent increased publicity of cigar use by celebrities, the introduction of cigar bars and the sub-culture of cigar paraphernalia such as humidors and clippers have combined to create a glamorous aura around a deadly product. According to estimates by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, over 5 billion cigars were consumed in 2006.1
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It was estimated that 2.2 percent of the United States adult population were current cigar smokers in 2005 and 2.3 percent currently use smokeless tobacco.2
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In 2005, 14.9 percent of high school students were current cigar smokers.3 In 2004, only 5.3 percent of middle school students smoked cigars.4
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Among all age groups, cigar use is higher among men than women.5
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Cigars contain the same addictive, toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarettes. In fact, a single large cigar can contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes.6
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While almost all cigarette smokers inhale, most cigar smokers do not. Therefore, the risk of lung cancer is lower for cigar smokers than cigarette smokers. However, the risk increases with the more frequent cigar smoking and depth of inhalation. Studies show that men who smoke at least five cigars a day and report moderate inhalation, experience lung cancer deaths at about two-thirds the rate of men who smoke one pack of cigarettes a day.7
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Cigar smokers experience higher rates of lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive lung disease than nonsmokers. Studies show that men who smoke at least three cigars a day are two to three times more likely to die of lung cancer than non-smokers.8
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Cigar smoking has similar consequences to cigarette smoking including four to ten times the risk of dying from oral, esophageal or laryngeal cancer in comparison to nonsmokers.9
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Cigars contain the same toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarettes and are not a safe alternative to cigarettes.10
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In June of 2000, the Federal Trade commission and seven of the USA’s largest cigar producers made a deal to require warnings on cigar packages and in advertisements.11
For more information on tobacco, please review the Tobacco Morbidity and Mortality Trend Report in the Data and Statistics section of our website at www.lungusa.org or call the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872).
Sources:
| 1. |
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Capehart, T.; Tobacco Outlook. Economic Research Service, April 2007. Available at: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/ers/TBS//2000s/2007/TBS-04-24-2007.pdf. Accessed on 4/30/07. |
| 2. |
Centers for Disease Control. MMWR. Tobacco Use Among Adults, United States, 2005. Vol. 55(42); 1145-1148; October 27, 2006. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5542a1.htm. Accessed on 4/19/07. |
| 3. |
Centers for Disease Control. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2005. Vol. 55(SS05); 1-108 (pg. 14). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5505al. Accessed on 4/30/07. |
| 4. |
Centers for Disease Control. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Tobacco Use, Access and Exposure in Media Among Middle School and High School Students, United States 2004. Vol. 54, No. 12. April 2005.Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5412al.htm. Accessed on 4/30/07. |
| 5. |
Centers for Disease Control. MMWR. Tobacco Use Among Adults, United States, 2005. Vol. 55(42); 1145-1148; October 27, 2006. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5542a1.htm. Accessed on 4/19/07. |
| 6. |
American Cancer Society. Cigar Smoking Fact Sheet. Available at: http//:www.cancer.org/docroot/PED_10_2X_Cigar_Smoking.asp?siterea=P. Accessed on 4/30/07. |
| 7. |
Baker, F.; Ainsworth, S.R.; Dye, J.T.; et al. Health Risks Associated with Cigar Smoking. Journal of the American Medical Association 2000; 284(6):735-740. |
| 8. |
Iribarren, C.; Tekawa, I.S; Sidney, S.; Friedman, G.D. Effect of Cigar Smoking on the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Cancer in Men. New England Journal of Medicine 1999; 340: 1773-80. |
| 9. |
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2007, Available at: http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2007PWSecured.pdf. Accessed on 5/6/07. |
| 10. |
National Cancer Institute. Smoking and Tobacco Control Monographs: Monograph 9: Cigars: Health Effects and Trends. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute; 1998. NIH Pub. No. 98–4302. Available from http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/tcrb/monographs/9/index.html. Accessed on 5/6/07. |
| 11. |
Federal Trade Commission (FTC). FTC Announces Settlements Requiring Disclosure of Cigar Health Risks. 2000. |
View American Lung Association Nationwide Research Awardees for 2006-2007
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