Cigars and Pipe-Smoking

[Chaotic Void]

Speaking of smoking...

it turns out someone was babysitting my niece at my mother's place and found my old stash of cigars in a plastic pencil case. And now that I'm home for Christmas, I got up this morning, borrowed my sister's lighter and went outside and smoked a Rum Colt to see if my stogies were still good.

After a good smoke (I accidentally inhaled twice), I concluded that, "Yep, they're still good." It didn't hurt that I kept 'em in a Ziploc bag (and a couple of them are individually wrapped).

[Andius]

Speaking of smoking...

it turns out someone was babysitting my niece at my mother's place and found my old stash of cigars in a plastic pencil case. And now that I'm home for Christmas, I got up this morning, borrowed my sister's lighter and went outside and smoked a Rum Colt to see if my stogies were still good.

After a good smoke (I accidentally inhaled twice), I concluded that, "Yep, they're still good." It didn't hurt that I kept 'em in a Ziploc bag (and a couple of them are individually wrapped).

Good man! Welcome to the world of the elite.

The joy of rediscovering old joys. ^^

[Naatee]

Turns out that as long as I kept it to an extremely moderated use of it (say once every week or two weeks), the risk factor is very very low.

The problem is nicotine is highly addictive. Although you may start using it only once a week, if an addiction sets in, you may start to use it much more frequently. This is different for everyone. Some people never develop an addiction but others may crave nicotine every minute of the day.

And seeing how many Christian of great standing were smokers themselves (as is the case of one of my favorite philosophers, Francis Schaeffer ), I always wondered if they knew something that I didn't.

Smoking isn't what made these men great, it was their love for philosophy.

I don't mean to sound too preachy, but I just want to clarify that there is always a high risk of developing an addiction and/or health complications when using any tobacco products.

[Chaotic Void]

Good man! Welcome to the world of the elite.

The joy of rediscovering old joys. ^^

Speaking of which... I need to pick up some Captain Black's cigars sometime soon. Gotta celebrate that my younger sister and her boyfriend are having their kid (my sis is actually due any day now, and since he doesn't smoke someone's gotta have a stogie in honor of the new member of the family).

[Pilgrim]

The problem is nicotine is highly addictive. Although you may start using it only once a week, if an addiction sets in, you may start to use it much more frequently. This is different for everyone. Some people never develop an addiction but others may crave nicotine every minute of the day.

Smoking isn't what made these men great, it was their love for philosophy.

I don't mean to sound too preachy, but I just want to clarify that there is always a high risk of developing an addiction and/or health complications when using any tobacco products.

Most pipe and cigar tobacco of quality doesn't contain nicotine does it? That's an additive in cigarettes as far as I know.

[Raphael]

Most pipe and cigar tobacco of quality doesn't contain nicotine does it? That's an additive in cigarettes as far as I know.

According to this source, it's higher:
http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/ciga...cigarfacts.htm

about.com

Cigars have a high level of nicotine in them; usually many times that of cigarettes. In fact, some premium cigars have as much nicotine in them as an entire pack of cigarettes, or more. If cigar smoke is inhaled, nicotine will enter the bloodstream through the lungs. If not, the nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth. Cigar smoke dissolves more easily in saliva than cigarette smoke because its composition is alkaline. This allows for quick absorption of nicotine, producing dependence without inhalation.

© source where applicable

and
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr98/nci-10a.htm

NIH

6. Are cigars addictive?

Nicotine is the agent in tobacco and tobacco smoke capable of producing addiction or nicotine dependence. Most cigars contain nicotine in quantities equivalent to several cigarettes and can deliver nicotine in concentrations comparable to those delivered by cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

When cigar smokers inhale, nicotine is absorbed rapidly as it is with cigarette smoke inhalation. For those who do not actively inhale, nicotine is absorbed predominantly through the lining of the mouth which leads to a slower rise and lower peak of nicotine in the blood compared to cigarette smokers who absorb nicotine primarily through the lungs. However, both inhaled and noninhaled nicotine can be highly addictive. For example, the large number of people addicted to smokeless tobacco demonstrates that nicotine absorbed through the lining of the mouth is capable of forming a powerful addiction.

Studies documenting the frequency or intensity of nicotine dependence and withdrawal symptoms from cigar smoking have not been conducted. However, the pattern of cigar smoking in the population — infrequent use, low number of cigars smoked per day, and lower rates of inhalation compared to cigarette smokers — suggests that cigar smokers are less likely to be dependent on nicotine than cigarette smokers. Specifically, the fraction of adult cigar smokers who smoke daily appears to be smaller than the fraction of everyday cigarette or spit tobacco users. Also, recent data show that increase cigar use among adults is largely an increase in occasional smoking, suggesting that the risk of addiction is lower for cigars than for cigarettes. (See question 10).

© source where applicable

[Pilgrim]

how about in pipe tobacco or loose leaf?

[Raphael]

how about in pipe tobacco or loose leaf?

From what I've read, all tobacco products have nicotine (it's in the leaf). But according to this site, the difference is that pipe tobacco doesn't have the additives (tar etc.) that cigarettes have. And as many pipe smokers don't inhale the smoke means you don't get as much nicotine (and less carcinogens)

According to this site pipe smokers need to also remember that it is increases your health risks
http://www.smokehelp.org/html/safe_tobacco.html

smokehelp

Pipe and cigar smokers reduce their health risks because they often smoke less than cigarette smokers and they usually do not inhale. However, when cigarette smokers switch to pipes or cigars, they are more likely to inhale just as they did when they smoked cigarettes. Or they may smoke more often. So, for these people, switching will not eliminate the health risks of smoking.

Pipe and cigar smokers have nearly the same risk as cigarette smokers for developing cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach) and bladder. Pipe smokers also have a high risk of lip cancer.

© source where applicable

Another study here: http://scielo.br/scielo.php?script=s...rm=iso&tlng=en

Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia

Pipes

The prevalence of regular pipe use among American men dropped from 14% in the 1960s to 2% in the 1990s, remaining rare among women (< 0.1%).(10) In classic studies on smoking, the overall risk of early death was only 10% higher in pipe smokers than in nonsmokers. However, in those studies, only individuals who had never smoked cigarettes were considered pipe smokers. Nevertheless, currently, most pipe or cigar smokers are former-cigarette smokers, who might retain some of the techniques of smoke inhalation, despite the irritation the smoke provokes in the airways. In such cases, the smokers present a significantly higher risk of becoming ill, with a 30% increase in the risk of heart disease and a nearly three times greater risk of developing COPD.(11) In addition, there is a causal relationship between pipe smoking and mortality due to lung, laryngeal, esophageal and oropharyngeal cancer.(12) In a multicenter study conducted in Europe, it was reported that smoking cigars or a pipe might have a carcinogenic effect on the lungs that is comparable to that of cigarette smoking.(7)

As previously mentioned, pipe smokers and cigar smokers present a greater risk of coronary disease, cerebrovascular accident and lung cancer. They also present higher rates of mortality due to other diseases and other forms of smoking-related cancer, such as liver, pancreatic, bladder and colorectal cancer,(4) as well as periodontal problems, tooth loss and bone loss.(13)
4. Shaper AG, Wannamethee SG, Walker M. Pipe and cigar smoking and major cardiovascular events, cancer incidence and all-cause mortality in middle-aged British men. Int J Epidemiol. 2003;32(5):802-8.
7. Boffetta P, Pershagen G, Jöckel KH, Forastiere F, Gaborieau V, Heinrich J, et al. Cigar and pipe smoking and lung cancer risk: a multicenter study from Europe. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999;91(8):697-701.
10. Nelson DE, Davis RM, Chrismon JH, Giovino GA. Pipe smoking in the United States, 1965-1991: prevalence and attributable mortality. Prev Med. 1996;25(2):91-9.
11. Ockene JK, Pechacek TF, Vogt T, Svendsen K. Does switching from cigarettes to pipes or cigars reduce tobacco smoke exposure? Am J Public Health. 1987;77(11):1412-6.
12. Henley SJ, Thun MJ, Chao A, Calle EE. Association between exclusive pipe smoking and mortality from cancer and other diseases. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004;96(11):853-61.
13. Albandar JM, Streckfus CF, Adesanya MR, Winn DM. Cigar, pipe, and cigarette smoking as risk factors for periodontal disease and tooth loss. J Periodontol. 2000;71(12):1874-81.

© source where applicable

[Pilgrim]

Very helpful articles. Thanks.

[Chaotic Void]

Oh yea... forgot to mention... I picked up a pipe back in April. Of course, I had to get my mother to teach me how to light it. But still, good fun.

I find that a single 'bowl' can last me a half an hour (and it's not even that big...) now that I'm a little more experienced. Right now, I'm using Borkum Riff Cherry Liqueur Tobacco, but after I use up this batch I'll be switching to Captain Black's. Won't be for a while though. Smoking once every two weeks doesn't make it go very quick.

Any other pipe tobacco that others can recommend?

[Andius]

Oh yea... forgot to mention... I picked up a pipe back in April. Of course, I had to get my mother to teach me how to light it. But still, good fun.

I find that a single 'bowl' can last me a half an hour (and it's not even that big...) now that I'm a little more experienced. Right now, I'm using Borkum Riff Cherry Liqueur Tobacco, but after I use up this batch I'll be switching to Captain Black's. Won't be for a while though. Smoking once every two weeks doesn't make it go very quick.

Oh the Borkum brand be a pure joy. I have yet to try Captain Black's, lets see how it turns out. Question, how big is your pipe? Either mine is small, given how mine doesn't last beyond ten minutes. =/

Any other pipe tobacco that others can recommend?

Anything grown in Cuba, heheheheheh.

[Chaotic Void]

Oh the Borkum brand be a pure joy. I have yet to try Captain Black's, lets see how it turns out. Question, how big is your pipe? Either mine is small, given how mine doesn't last beyond ten minutes. =/

Well, I've tried the Captain's cigars, and they are quite tasty (it's basically the pipe tobacco in the form of a cigar). As for pipe size, I'm not sure how to gauge it. The bowl is- I think- not even an inch deep

Anything grown in Cuba, heheheheheh.

Not sure if I can get anything like that here in Saskatchewan, but it's worth a shot.

[Andius]

Well, I've tried the Captain's cigars, and they are quite tasty (it's basically the pipe tobacco in the form of a cigar). As for pipe size, I'm not sure how to gauge it. The bowl is- I think- not even an inch deep

Oooh, guess il have to grab me a bag one day. ^^

Not sure if I can get anything like that here in Saskatchewan, but it's worth a shot.

If it's illegal in Canada, then it is worth getting arrested for, hehehehe.

[Chaotic Void]

Oooh, guess il have to grab me a bag one day. ^^



If it's illegal in Canada, then it is worth getting arrested for, hehehehe.

It's not so much whether it's legal (AFAIK, it's only illegal in the US of A but I could be wrong), but Saskatchewan isn't that large to begin with so I doubt I'd be able to find it.

[Teluog]

I just tried a pack of basic cigars to see what it's like. I used to smoke cigarettes but quit because they were expensive and very toxic due to all the crap they add to them, and they are stink and are just plain gross. It leaves you smelling very unattractive and all also has a stigma to them.

I figured I'd give cigars a shot because I don't think they have as much crap to them (actually if there is such thing is a pure, "healthy" cigar, lemme know!). They also smell nicer and have a classier style to them.