cigars and health

[Superbad]

I explained to my doctor, that cigars are the thing that keeps stress from killing me, at this point in my life. It is my chance to relax from the stresses of work, going through a divorce, etc.

[floydpink]

Probably painting with a broad brush, but I tend to look at people who enjoy fine cigars, fine wine, great coffee, hot women, fast cars, exotic travel and the McRib sandwich to have a commonality;

they take calculated risks, weigh the good and bad, work as hard as they play, generally keep their vices to a ceratin level of moderation and are normally in the upper level of intellectuality.

Of course there are exceptions to the rule.

Plenty of athletes lighting up a cigar after a title, guys celebrating monumental moments with a cigar, and guys in their golden years enjoying cigars. Same applies to our sisters of the leaf; all around funner to be around.

You probably could find a healthier hobby and at 18, still can save yourself.

[loki]

i'd say i'm in better health since i can now relax.

[Ol' Times Cigars]

My mom had cancer about 2 years ago. It was throat cancer and all of her doctors ruled out smoking as the cause, even though she she had a cigar here and there, smoked cigarettes over 15 years ago, and works in our shop where customers smoke all day long inside. I have had customers tell their cardiologist that they smoke cigars and the doctor said to them oh then you don't really smoke. I have had countless people tell me that their doctors tell them not to even worry about cigar smoking.

The way I look at it is that you are going to get something or your not. Smoking may increase those odds but probably not significantly enough to worry about.

There is a study out there that actually shows there are no really risks when smoking cigars. I forget who did it but basically they found that 1 to 2 a day you have the same health risks as a non-smoker and they only found a very slight increase when you step up to 5 or more a day, but it still wasn't enough to worry about.

Everything in moderation. Go get a cigar and enjoy it!

[Don Fernando]

Being overweight is a bigger health issue than a cgar every now and then

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Superbad

I explained to my doctor, that cigars are the thing that keeps stress from killing me, at this point in my life. It is my chance to relax from the stresses of work, going through a divorce, etc.

Yup....I smoke an average of 7-10 cigars a week. I have, in my eyes, increased my risk of cancer slightly...and decreased the risk of having a stress related stroke immensely.

[Whee]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

Being overweight is a bigger health issue than a cgar every now and then

Originally Posted by icehog3

Yup....I smoke an average of 7-10 cigars a week. I have, in my eyes, increased my risk of cancer slightly...and decreased the risk of having a stress related stroke immensely.

Had these very conversations with my doctor a couple of years ago.

I started smoking a cigar every night after work, dinner and kids to bed and reduced my blood pressure significantly. While the doctor didn't want to necessarily "endorse" the smoking, he agreed that it was better than stroking out in the driveway from stress.

I am fairly health conscious and did quite a bit of research before entering into the hobby. Is cigar smoking a healthy activity without risk? Absolutely not. I have simply made the informed decision that cigars pose an acceptable amount of risk when used in moderation. For me, moderation means between zero and two cigars a week. I probably average about 1.5 cigars per week. The enjoyment and relaxation outweighs the relatively mild statistical risk. I hedge my bets by eating very well, getting proper amounts of sleep, and scheduling moderate physical activity on a regular basis.

Almost no hobby or task is without risk. I enjoy flying airplanes. Sometimes the weather is bad. Do I swear never to fly because there is a possibility of injury or death? Heck no, it brings far too much enjoyment! I get all the information I can (weather breifings, etc) and make a prudent choice based on my idea of an acceptable amount of risk.

My father has smoked 5 cigars daily for as long as I can remember. Two years ago he almost died......from being struck by a speeding car while crossing the street. You never know when your number is up. Don't trash your body, but enjoy the time you have.

[bigpedunn]

George Burns smoked a cigar a day and lived to one hundred years old.

[NCRadioMan]

Please read the original, unbiased, Surgeon General's report on smoking and cancer. It concludes that pipe smokers have a lower mortality rate than non-smokers and that cigar smokers have virtually the same mortality rate as non-smokers. It's the cigarettes that get you. Well, the crap they add to cigarettes will.

Also, this: http://web.archive.org/web/200211282...08/wtob08.html

[papajohn67]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Please read the original, unbiased, Surgeon General's report on smoking and cancer. It concludes that pipe smokers have a lower mortality rate than non-smokers and that cigar smokers have virtually the same mortality rate as non-smokers. It's the cigarettes that get you. Well, the crap they add to cigarettes will.

Also, this: http://web.archive.org/web/200211282...08/wtob08.html

I thought the Surgeon General just came out with a recent report that any tobacco use caused damage, even a single puff.

Anyone who is new to smoking and is not aware of the risks is a fool. That being said this fool started smoking cigars 43 years ago in Vietnam. What damage it has done is miniscule when compared to the damage done to my body while vacationing in Vietnam.

I bought into the idea as a youngster that I was fighting to preserve freedom....each day that goe by leaves me to ponder just who's as our intrusive Govenment continues to attempt to curtail my own.

[OLS]

I DO know that people have been banned for life with less than 3 posts.
Not sure how that relates to smoking 2 cigars a day. People here will tinker around with your head a little,
but look around elsewhere on the net and see if you don't find other forums worse. I think in the long
run you will run less risk if you accept a little funny business and not try to counsel people for not taking
your question as seriously as you do. As you can see, you eventually got the question answered sufficiently.
I am kind of late to be jumping in and telling you what's what. But remember, while it is not uncommon for
someone to join and not use their first post to introduce themselves properly in our forum provided for that purpose,
It IS uncommon for someone to use their second and third to wag their finger in the faces of members in good standing.
Now, head on over to the introductions forum and let us know a little more about you. The longer you stay,
the better you'll be at getting the info you want.

[HK3-]

I will make up whatever excuse is needed to keep smoking my cigars and be left alone by others who disagree with my hobby.

[Whee]

Originally Posted by OLS

I DO know that people have been banned for life with less than 3 posts.
Not sure how that relates to smoking 2 cigars a day. People here will tinker around with your head a little,
but look around elsewhere on the net and see if you don't find other forums worse. I think in the long
run you will run less risk if you accept a little funny business and not try to counsel people for not taking
your question as seriously as you do. As you can see, you eventually got the question answered sufficiently.
I am kind of late to be jumping in and telling you what's what. But remember, while it is not uncommon for
someone to join and not use their first post to introduce themselves properly in our forum provided for that purpose,
It IS uncommon for someone to use their second and third to wag their finger in the faces of members in good standing.
Now, head on over to the introductions forum and let us know a little more about you. The longer you stay,
the better you'll be at getting the info you want.

Brad, by now, you should know that I've adored you from afar for decades..."

[SNKBYT]

with all said above I can only add

Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "..holy crap ....what a ride!"

[dwoodward]

I have always said that I will do what I want, it is my life and anything harmful I do to myself was always with the intention of enjoying life the way I wanted it to be. If you are already looking at smoking as harmful before you are even in the hobby then cigars are probably not for you.

However just so you can relax about it, I believe someone posted some statistics in the last thread on this subject that showed that the increased risks of certain cancers relating to cigar smoking was extremely low, even for the targeted smokers of 1-2 cigars a day. Some of us don't even smoke weekly, I haven't had a cigar in a month (mostly cuz its so f'ing cold out). For us that smoke maybe once a week we can rest assured that the risk is almost nothing.

That said, I would do it anyway just because its very relaxing and there is nothing better than a cigar with a friend.

nuff siad. im in

[OLS]

hahahaha, Hoosier you really know how to work me. Shaman, you also shouldn't be too upset that I went
25% off on you. It is so peaceful here these days, some might say slow...I MIGHT say slow. But in that
environment, I READ things I oughtn't. So naturally, I SAY things I don't say very well. I'll leave it to others
to scare you straight, lol.

OH, and before I forget. YOU CAN give yourself lip cancer. Just leave the cigar in your mouth all the time
instead of holding it in your hand or an ashtray. And you can give yourself esophageal cancer by letting
too much juice go down your throat. This will also give you the nico-spins. But if you only add the cigar
to your face to puff it, you should be fine. It's the nicotine that gets ya, and the constant contact of the
cigar to wet tissue.

[dwoodward]

Originally Posted by OLS

But if you only add the cigar
to your face to puff it, you should be fine. It's the nicotine that gets ya, and the constant contact of the
cigar to wet tissue.

Good advice.. Keep your lips dry, take nice puffs, don't inhale. And stick with it for your first cigar. The first one usually is the deal breaker, a lot of people smoke for 5 minutes and put the cigar down saying they "don't get it" or something similar. Usually about 15-20 minutes in on your first one, you will start to get a hint of what the fuss is about. I wont go into too much detail, but you will know when you start to taste it.

Also, make sure you visit a good tobacconist shop where they can give you some good advice. Make sure you get a good cigar for your 1st time, ask the shop owner questions, most are very knowledgeable and will help you find a great cigar that wont break the bank.

Lastly, pair the cigar with something sugary. Most newbie cigar smokers get very light headed, and sometimes nauseous from the unfamiliar nicotine rush. I suggest Lemon Lime soda. The sugar will help calm your stomach for your first few cigars til you build a tolerance. I prefer the cheap stuff they sell at Walmart lol.

Originally Posted by dwoodward

Also, make sure you visit a good tobacconist shop where they can give you some good advice. Make sure you get a good cigar for your 1st time, ask the shop owner questions, most are very knowledgeable and will help you find a great cigar that wont break the bank.

.

This This this this this. I'm in the same boat as the OP just turned 18 recently, don't really drink or party or any of that (not that into excess). For my 18th I wanted to do some stuff I wasn't allowed to do before, but didn't want to get a whole pack of cigarettes. I'd had an amazing night a couple months before smoking a mediocre cigar with a couple of by best friends so that's what I did for my birthday. Luckily my brothers room mate knows his stuff we went to a great little smoke shop and he gave me some advice. I ended up having a perfect afternoon smoking a Ashton Cabinet with my family. Since then I've had 3 cigars two were from a local liquor store that sells cigars as an after thought, one was from a member of this forum. The two from the local place were terrible. The other one was amazing. I cannot stress this enough go to somewhere that specializes in this type of thing. I will never go back to the local bar, the other cigar place is 3 hours away (where my brother lives), but it would be worth it every time to go there instead.