Are Cigars Bad for You?

Yes, cigars are bad for you even if you do not inhale. Cigar smoke still passes through your mouth and throat, where harmful chemicals make contact with the tissue. Nicotine absorbs through the lining of the mouth, so your body takes it in without sending smoke to your lungs.

Not inhaling lowers some risks compared with inhaling, but it does not make cigars safe. Cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, and esophagus are linked to cigar use whether or not the smoke reaches the lungs. You can read more about how nicotine reaches you in our guide on whether you inhale cigars.

Cigars are linked to several cancers by major health authorities. The CDC and the American Cancer Society connect cigar use to cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, and esophagus. Cigar use is also linked to lung cancer, especially among people who inhale.

The reason is the smoke itself. Cigar smoke contains many of the same harmful and cancer-causing chemicals as other forms of tobacco smoke. The risk generally rises with how often a person smokes and whether they inhale.

A few points capture the consensus from health authorities:

• Frequency matters. Risk tends to climb with more frequent cigar use.
• Inhaling raises risk. Drawing smoke into the lungs adds lung and other risks.
• Occasional use is not risk-free. Even infrequent, non-inhaled smoking carries risk.

Beyond cancer, cigars are linked to heart disease and lung disease. Health authorities note that cigar smoking can contribute to conditions such as heart disease and chronic lung disease. The nicotine in cigars is also addictive, which can make use hard to stop.

Nicotine is the chemical that drives dependence. Because cigar smoke is absorbed through the mouth, nicotine reaches you even without inhaling. Our guide on whether cigars have nicotine explains this in more detail.

Secondhand smoke is a risk too. The smoke from cigars contains the same harmful chemicals that the smoker is exposed to, and it can affect the people nearby. There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke for the smoker or for others.

There is no safe level of cigar smoking. Health authorities are consistent that no amount of tobacco use is risk-free. Cutting down or smoking only occasionally lowers exposure but does not remove the risk.

This applies to all tobacco, not just cigars. Even a single cigar exposes the mouth and throat to harmful chemicals and delivers addictive nicotine. If you have health concerns or questions about your own situation, the right step is to speak with a doctor.

Are cigars bad for you? Yes. Cigars are not a safe form of tobacco, and they carry serious health risks even when you do not inhale. Cigar smoke contains addictive nicotine and many of the same harmful, cancer-causing chemicals as other tobacco. Health authorities such as the CDC and the American Cancer Society link cigar use to cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, and esophagus, and to heart and lung disease, with risk rising with frequency and inhalation. Secondhand smoke is harmful too, and there is no safe level of tobacco use. If you have any health concerns, talk with a doctor. For related reading, see our guides on whether cigars have nicotine and whether you inhale cigars, or browse all of our guides. Note that the legal minimum age to purchase cigars varies by state — our how old to buy cigars guide covers the rules.