For those who use cigars, the common practice involves drawing the smoke into the mouth, holding it briefly, and then releasing it without a deep draw into the lungs. This method of use, often called “puffing,” contrasts sharply with the deep inhalation standard for cigarette consumption. The difference is dictated by distinct chemical properties of the smoke itself. Cigar manufacturing produces smoke that is chemically efficient for oral absorption and physically irritating to the respiratory tract, explaining why deep inhalation is avoided.
Nicotine Absorption Without Lung Involvement
The primary reason deep inhalation is unnecessary for a cigar user to receive nicotine lies in the tobacco’s curing and fermentation process. Cigar tobacco is typically air-cured, resulting in smoke with an alkaline (high pH) level, often 6.5 or above. This alkalinity determines the form nicotine takes in the smoke. Nicotine is a weak base, and in an alkaline environment, a greater proportion of the substance is converted into its non-ionized, or “free-base,” form.
Free-base nicotine crosses biological membranes easily and is readily absorbed through the mucous membranes lining the mouth. Known as buccal absorption, this mechanism allows the user to absorb a substantial dose of nicotine without lung involvement. The act of simply holding the smoke in the mouth provides sufficient exposure for the drug to enter the bloodstream.
This contrasts with most cigarettes, which use flue-cured tobacco producing acidic smoke (pH 5.5 to 6.0). In this acidic environment, the majority of the nicotine is in an ionized form, which cannot easily pass through the oral membranes. Therefore, acidic cigarette smoke must be inhaled deep into the lungs, where the vast surface area of the alveoli facilitate the rapid absorption of ionized nicotine. The chemical composition of cigar smoke bypasses the need for this pulmonary delivery route entirely.
The Physical Intolerance of Cigar Smoke
Beyond the chemical efficiency of nicotine delivery, the physical characteristics of cigar smoke make deep inhalation intensely irritating. A typical cigar contains a larger amount of tobacco than a cigarette and is wrapped in a non-porous tobacco leaf. The sheer volume of tobacco and the longer smoking time contribute to a much denser plume of smoke.
The smoke is voluminous and contains a higher concentration of combustion byproducts, toxins, and irritants compared to cigarette smoke. The smoke is generally more alkaline, which contributes to an irritating sensation in the throat and lungs. It also carries more tar and higher levels of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, making it heavier and harsher on respiratory tissues.
Most cigars lack a filter, delivering smoke at a higher temperature directly to the oral cavity, which increases physical discomfort. The combination of heat, irritants, and alkalinity makes drawing the smoke into the lungs a physically painful experience. This physiological reaction serves as a strong deterrent against the deep inhalation common with filtered, acidic-smoke cigarettes.
Health Risks of Oral Exposure
While not inhaling may reduce the risk of lung cancer compared to heavy cigarette use, the activity still carries serious health consequences. Holding the smoke in the mouth exposes the entire oral cavity and upper respiratory tract to high concentrations of carcinogens. The smoke contains many of the same toxic and cancer-causing compounds found in cigarette smoke.
This localized exposure leads to an elevated risk of cancers affecting the oral cavity, including the lip, tongue, floor of the mouth, and pharynx. The risk of developing oral cancer for daily cigar users who do not inhale is comparable to the risk for cigarette smokers. This is largely due to the direct, prolonged contact of the smoke with the tissues of the mouth.
Carcinogens are also introduced when saliva, which has absorbed smoke constituents, is swallowed. This process exposes the esophagus and larynx to cancer-causing agents. Daily cigar smokers who do not inhale face an increased likelihood of dying from laryngeal and esophageal cancers compared to non-smokers. Therefore, the non-inhalation method simply shifts the primary location of the potential damage from the lungs to the upper digestive and respiratory tracts.