# Is cigar smoking dangerous?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cigar-smoking-dangerous/259264>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 10, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cigar-smoking-dangerous/259264 "2004-08-10T21:38:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cigar-smoking-dangerous/259264/1 "2004-08-10T21:38:24Z")

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More specifically, are there statistics that demonstrate the effect of an occasional cigar _when the smoker does not inhale?_ I am interested in all health effects, but the various forms of cancer in particular (e.g., lung, oral, etc.). “Occasional” for me means anywhere from zero to 4 cigars a month, but any study that has a different definition of frequency (while showing the probability/effect) is acceptable.

I am NOT interested in crusaders from either side of the “right to smoke cigars” debate, or in any opinion stated as fact without some statistical support. I accept intuitively (and have seen at least some stats) that those who inhale cigars accept a significantly increased risk of lung cancer. But that is not my question.

Can anyone help? The more details the better. For example, this quote from [the ACS](http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ped/content/ped_10_2x_cigar_smoking_and_cancer.asp?sitearea=ped#cancer) is helpful…

> [@](#):
>
> For those who do not inhale, tobacco smoke does not reach the lungs in the same quantity as it does in cigarette smokers. Therefore, the risk of death from lung cancer is not as high as it is for cigarette smokers, but is still three times higher than the risk for nonsmokers.

…but not as helpful as it would be if it actually provided more details (does this include occasional cigar smokers?; how many cigars were smoked by the subjects in the study–1/day, 10/day, 10/month?; what is the rate of lung cancer per 100,000?).

Stating (from the same site), “If you smoke cigars, your risk of death from larngeal, oral,or esophageal cancers is 4 to 10 times the risk compared to non-smokers” is not terribly helpful, unless it can be demonstrated that the act of smoking a cigar, regardless of frequency, inhalation, etc., automatically increases this risk 4 to 10 times.

Any comments on [this cite](http://www.cigargroup.com/faq/health/ncifaq.htm) would also be welcome.

The ACS states that, “The health risk associated with occasional cigar smoking (less than daily) is not known.” This flatly conflicts with many statements I’ve seen that accept as fact that cigar smoking, regardless of frequency and inhalation, is a health risk. Is anyone aware of studies that do shed light on this? Again, I just want statistical facts, if possible. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cigar-smoking-dangerous/259264/2 "2004-08-10T23:04:12Z")

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[The Dangers of Cigars](http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/2551.cfm) - Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

[The Dangers of Cigar Smoking](http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_The_Dangers_of_Cigar_Smoking.asp) - American Cancer Society.