Cigar smoking is a relaxing experience that we all love. But how often should you smoke a cigar in a responsible and healthy way?
One cigar a day is considered safe by many cigar aficionados.
Since cigar smoking is viewed as a hobby rather than a compulsive habit.
However, its health impacts are somewhat similar to cigarettes.
The main difference is they do not contain added chemicals.
Like any other smoking product, cigars contain tobacco, nicotine, and other cancerous toxins.
These can affect your health if you consume more than a cigar or two a day.
A study by the staff at FDA suggests that consuming two cigars daily does not lead to any smoking-related deaths or decrease life expectancy.
On the other hand, Dr. Justin Goralnik, a pulmonologist, suggests that it is a misconception that cigars can’t cause cancers.
He further explains that cigar smoke is found to have higher levels of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide than cigarettes.
This makes the smoker more prone to lung diseases and cancer.
Should You Be Concerned
While medical professionals do not encourage smoking cigars, they all agree that the risk to your health is directly related to the amount and frequency of consumption.
But, if you smoke more than two a day, you may develop some health problems.
Should You Quit
While you must monitor your consumption, cigar smoking is a leisure activity many enjoy and love indulging in to make the pastime fun.
Therefore, as long as you indulge in it to add smoke and class to your activities, you need not quit it.
Minimize the Risks of Health Problems While Still Enjoying Cigars
As a cigar enthusiast, you won’t be pleased with the suggestion of quitting smoke altogether.
So, here are seven tips to help you maintain good health while enjoying cigars:
Drink Lots of Water or Other Beverage
Bacteria grow faster in a dry mouth.
Keep your palate hydrated, and drink a beverage while smoking.
This also makes sure you don’t get a nasty cigar breath.
Try not to smoke if you have done a high-impact physical activity just before.
Smoke Premium Cigars
The easiest way to avoid serious health concerns associated with cigar smoking is by picking only good quality premium brands.
High-quality cigars mean you know what you are lighting up before you expose yourself to the smoke and the ingredients.
Brush Teeth After Smoking
Brushing is the oldest method of keeping our mouths healthy and germ-free.
Doing it right after smoking reduces the stay time for nicotine and tar in your mouth, thus reducing the risks of oral cancers.
Don’t Inhale Cigars
While taking handsome puffs to enjoy your cigar, we suggest you don’t inhale the smoke to stay on the safe side.
Inhaling while also smoking can double the impact, which is not ideal for your mouth and lungs.
Try retrohaling instead. This is a technique to better savor the flavor notes of a stogie.
Take Even Gaps
If you are going by the book, you need to take at least 24 hours gap between two cigar smoking sessions.
This will average one cigar a day and seven a week. Try smoking less if you want to minimize the risks even more.
Smoke in Open Areas
Smoking in close environments will increase the health impacts of cigar smoking.
As less smoke will escape and more will enter your body through your mouth and nostrils.
Try Smaller Cigar Sizes
Quite a few cigar brands come in different flavors and sizes.
You can choose a smaller cigar to satisfy your cravings for the day. Full-bodied sticks tend to have way more tobacco and nicotine.
Avoid heavily flavored cigars.
They have a lesser concentration of nicotine than conventional cigars, but much more chemicals.
Bottom Line: How Often Should You Smoke a Cigar
As an ending note, we’ll recall that frequency and concentration of nicotine are the key.
Smoking premium quality cigars with a gap of at least 24 hours does lesser harm.
Therefore, our recommendation at Cigars Experts is to go for one or maximum two a day. In fact that’s what we aim for as well.
As a cigar hobbyist, you must keep the health risks associated with cigars in mind before you light up.
For novice cigar enthusiasts, we highly recommend reading this beginner’s cigar guide.
