Jump to full article: NewsOK, 2010-02-23
Author: SUSAN SIMPSON
Intro: Cigar smoking also increases risk for heart disease and cancers of the lung, mouth, voice box and esophagus.
The study looked at 3,528 people who smoked pipes and cigars but not cigarettes.
Results are published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
The researchers said that cigarettes are a well-documented cause of COPD, but less was known about the impact on lung function from pipe and cigar smoking. They say pipe and cigar smoking has increased in the United States in recent years because some view these behaviors as healthier than smoking.
Craig Smith, 32, of Ardmore, said he smokes one or two cigars a week, and has consulted his doctor about it.
"Cigar smoke is extremely hard to inhale, especially for someone who doesn't smoke cigarettes," Smith said. "Although he wouldn't suggest smoking of any sort, one or two cigars a week were not nearly as harmful as a pack a day."
Nearly 6 percent of Oklahomans smoke cigars and a little more than 1 percent smoke pipes.
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