Is it safer to smoke pipes and cigars than cigarettes?

Some people believe that smoking a pipe or cigars is better for your health than smoking cigarettes.

Part of the reason for this is that many pipe and cigar smokers do not inhale the smoke into their lungs, whereas almost all cigarette smokers do.

However, the idea that smoking a pipe or cigar is harmless is wrong. Smoking tobacco in any form can cause potentially fatal diseases.

Pipe down

Research has shown that while smoking a pipe is not as dangerous as smoking cigars or cigarettes, it can still seriously damage your health.

Smoking a pipe increases your risk of six cancers - cancer of the colon, pancreas, larynx, oesophagus, and lung.

It also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and chronic lung disease.

Say goodbye to cigars

Cigar smoking has been linked to coronary heart disease.

Research has also suggested that cigar smokers are 5 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers. And, worse still, if you inhale the strong cigar smoke, you are 11 times more likely to get the disease.

Smoking of any kind is bad for your health. There is no such thing as a safe tobacco product.

Being completely smoke-free is the single best step you can take to reduce the risk of fatal diseases and increase your chances of a longer, healthier life.