Whether they are smoked daily or just on special occasions, cigars are not a safe alternative to cigarettes. They’re addictive and pose serious health risks.

The Dangers of Cigars

Cigars are not harmless. All cigars contain nicotine — the same highly addictive chemical found in cigarettes and vapes. Many people mistakenly believe cigars are less harmful than cigarettes because those who use them don’t inhale the smoke directly into their lungs. However, that doesn’t make them safe. When you hold cigar smoke in your mouth, you’re still absorbing toxic chemicals through the lining of your mouth and throat — and you’re still exposing yourself and those around you to secondhand smoke.

Smoke is smoke. Even without deep inhaling, you’re exposing your body to harmful, cancer-causing chemicals.

Photo Credit: U.S. Food & Drug Administration

The Health Risks

Cigar smoke contains many of the same toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarette smoke, including carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and tar. These chemicals are linked to multiple types of cancer, including:

• Mouth
• Throat
• Esophagus
• Larynx
• Lung
• Pancreas

People who use cigars, including those who only use them on special occasions, are also at increased risk for heart and lung diseases, including COPD, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.¹

Learn More

For youth ready to quit, help is available. Visit TSETHealthyYouth.com to find free, youth-focused quit programs backed by science.