There are many people who look upon cigar smoking as more sophisticated and less harmful than cigarette smoking. The truth is, one large cigar can contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes. The second hand smoke can remain in a room for hours which other people inhale.
Here is a description on what cigars are, the current trends in their use and the possible health effects it has on the people who use them and women smoking cigars.
Cigars versus cigarettes
A cigar is defined as “any roll of tobacco wrapped in leaf tobacco, or in any substance containing tobacco”. A cigarette is defined as “any roll of tobacco wrapped in paper, or in any substance not containing tobacco”. Cigars do not usually have a filter, unlike machine made cigarettes that do.
Most cigars are made from an air cured or dried tobacco, where the tobacco leave are first aged for about a year and then fermented in a process that can take anywhere from 3 – 5 months. The fermentation process is what causes bacterial and chemical reactions to change the tobacco, hence the reason it smells and taste different from cigarettes.
Who Smokes Cigars?
The current trend in cigar smoking is particularly popular among women, teenagers and young adults. There is a “cigar culture” which is supported by cigar magazines, shops, bars and clubs. Many cigar smokers regard themselves as connoisseurs, pretty much like wine experts, and view cigars as a refined, affordable luxury that represents success. The tobacco industry has glamorized smoking cigars, and many movie stars and athletes agree to be paid and photographed smoking cigars.
This hasn’t helped by way of educating the population about the dangers of smoking cigars, and our youth nation has embraced this habit readily. Cigar use has increased since the early 1990s. Most of this increase took place between 1993 and 2007, when the use of both large cigars and cigarillos climbed to an astonishing 124%. An estimated 4.8 billion cigars were consumed in the US in 2007.
The production of cigars has climbed steadily over the years particularly the ‘little cigars’. It went from 1.5 billion in 1996 to over 5.1 billion by 2006. Cigar manufacturers have added flavors like chocolate and strawberry which appeal to younger smokers and because of lower taxes, they cost less, making the appeal of smoking cigars more alluring.
Women Smoking Cigars
Cigar smoking among women has become very popular over the years. What is so alluring about a woman smoking cigars? What makes her so attractive to cigar smoking men, or even to men who don’t smoke cigars?
First of all, it’s the notion that cigar smoking represents a certain strength. She is confident, secure and ready to put up with all the criticism from her family and friends. She is prepared to present herself with a crutch that will either attract attention or conversation from the opposite sex. She has armed herself with a strong mind that will deal with the comments, criticism, cat calls and all the ‘come ons’ that she will attract when she draws on her smoke. She doesn’t care about breaking a few rules.
Men like women who are not afraid to break a few rules and take risks. They like women who can blend in as one of the guys. She is comfortable wearing jeans and a t-shirt, watching a ball game, playing pool and cards, drinking beer and of course smoking. Men love that. When this same women wears an evening gown, throws her head back, brushes her hair aside and lights up a Cuban, that contrast of style is even more appealing. In a sense, men are attracted to women who are “more like men”.
Despite the alluring effects cigar smoking has for women, it is still tobacco and it is still dangerous to smoke. It it not worth putting your health at risk for the sake of style. Consider this before you decide to incorporate cigar smoking into your lifestyle. Is it truly worth the risk?
