From: ??????????????????
Subject: Re: ADA News Releases: Cigar Fact Sheet

Steve,
Thanks for the Email.  Lots of juicy (albeit rotten) stuff on cigars lately.
 "SOME (my
emphasis) cigars 40 X amount of nicotine." Sure, which cigars?  processed
tobacco, low end cigars possibly.  But nicotine is not absorbed well through
the mouth---only through the stomach and lungs.  Hence, cigar smokers have
negligible amounts of nicotine in the blood and cotinine (breakdown product
of nicotine which persists some weeks in the body) are also very low.  Oral
cancer?  12 X the amount in cigarettes (death rates notwithstanding.)
 However, the studies clearly point to alcohol as part of the picture...these
smokers were "heavy" alcohol users as well.  So since alcohol is a known oral
carcinogen, these studies demonstrate buptkis.  Bad breath, eyes of the
beholder type of stuff (my wife has never complained but she smokes
cigarettes so were even.)  Stained teeth?  Can't argue.  See your dentist.
 By the way, I'm waiting for some government literature before I write the
health FAQ on heart disease but it looks good for cigar smokers compared to
pipers and cigaretters.  Lower carbon monoxide and nicotine blood levels most
likely have something to do with this.

Bottom line________cigars are associated with oral/pharyngeal/lung cancers.
 But there are caveats:  don't inhale, don't overdo liquor (I'm not sure what
that means yet), let the buyer beware if there is a family history of lung or
oral cancer (definite genetic linking) and emphysema (genetically linked:
you'll get it even if you don't smoke cigarettes.  Cigarette smokers have a
10-15% of emphysema and 30% of lung cancer, however, 80% of emphysema
patients and 90% of lung cancers are cigarette smoking related.)

Had an H. Upmann Monarch last night...incredible.  I better check my mouth
for "white lesions", rinse my mouth with mouthwash, and take an inhaler
before participating in the local Memorial Day Parade today.  BTW, WINE BOSS
coming over for supper, better lock those humidors.

Please pass this on to whoever is interested in some of the facts.

Marc

[ Thanks for helping with this one, Marc!  For my own $0.02, see the
quote this issue. -S. ]


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