Cigar smoking: Safer than cigarette smoking?

Question

My husband insists that cigar smoking is safer than cigarette smoking. Is this true?

Answer

No. Some people might believe that cigar smoking is safer than cigarette smoking, but it's not. Even if you don't inhale the smoke, it's not safer to smoke any type of cigar. Here's why cigar smoking isn't safer:

* Nicotine. Cigars, like cigarettes, contain nicotine, the substance that can lead to tobacco dependence. A single full-size cigar can contain as much nicotine as do several cigarettes. If you inhale cigar smoke, you can get as much nicotine as if you smoked cigarettes. And even if you don't inhale, large amounts of nicotine can be absorbed through the lining of your mouth. Smoking cigars instead of cigarettes doesn't reduce your risk of nicotine dependence.

Quitting smoking: 10 ways to ride out tobacco cravings

Cravings can wear you down when you're trying to quit smoking or chewing tobacco. These 10 methods can help you remain in control and stay quit.

For most tobacco users, cravings or urges to smoke can be powerful. But you're not at the mercy of these cravings. When an urge to use tobacco strikes, remember that although it may be intense, it will be short, and it probably will pass within a few minutes whether you smoke a cigarette or not. Each time you resist a craving, you're one step closer to stopping smoking or other tobacco use for good.

In the meantime, here are 10 ways to help you ride out the urge to smoke or use tobacco.

Quit-smoking products: Boost your chance of quitting for good

Quitting smoking is hard, but quit-smoking products can improve your odds of success. Know the options so you can choose the right quit-smoking product.

Want to quit smoking? Several quit-smoking products are available that can help you stop smoking for good. Using a quit-smoking product can greatly increase your chance of success. Only about 5 percent of people who try to quit tobacco succeed without a quit-smoking product. But more than 30 percent can succeed when using a quit-smoking product. You have the best chance at quitting smoking when you combine behavior therapy with use of one or more quit-smoking products.

Chewing tobacco: Not a safe alternative to cigarettes

Get the facts about chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco. They're more harmful and addictive than you might think.

You can call chewing tobacco by whatever name you want — smokeless tobacco, spit tobacco, chew, snuff, pinch or dip — but don't call it harmless. Whether you use chewing tobacco or other types of smokeless tobacco because you like it or because you think smokeless is safer than cigarettes, be forewarned — chewing tobacco can cause serious health problems.

Chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco

Chewing tobacco is a common type of smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco products consist of tobacco or a tobacco blend that's chewed, sucked on or sniffed, rather than smoked.

Weight loss: Assess your readiness to change

Before you plunge into a weight-loss program, see if you're truly ready. And see what steps to take if you aren't ready yet.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Your weight-loss success depends in large part on your readiness to take on the challenge. If you jump in before you're ready, your weight-loss plan may buckle under the first challenge. Use these questions to assess your weight-loss readiness.

1. Are you motivated to make long-term lifestyle changes?

Successful weight loss depends on permanent lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy foods and exercising more. That could represent a significant departure from your current lifestyle. Be honest. Knowing that you need to make changes in your life and actually doing it are two different things. You may have to overhaul your diet so that you're eating more whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products, for example. You'll also need to find time to exercise for at least 30 minutes nearly every day of the week. Exercise is especially important to prevent regaining your lost weight.

Weight loss basics

Your weight is a balancing act, and calories are part of that equation. Fad diets may promise you that counting carbs or eating a mountain of grapefruit will make the pounds drop off. But when it comes to weight loss, it's calories that count. Weight loss comes down to burning more calories that you take in. You can do that by reducing extra calories from food and beverages and increasing calories burned through physical activity.

Once you understand that equation, you're ready to set your weight-loss goals and make a plan for reaching them. Remember, you don't have to do it alone. Talk to your doctor, family and friends for support. Also, plan smart: Anticipate how you'll handle situations that challenge your resolve and the inevitable minor setbacks.

Why you should get your selenium and zinc from foods, not synthetic vitamins

I first met the MegaFood company at a natural products expo two years ago. We sat down and had a conversation about "food-based nutrients" versus isolated or synthetic nutrients, and it turned into a fascinating hour that left me thinking we should be doing something with the MegaFood company at some point. They really impressed me as a company that knew what they were doing with food-based nutritional supplements.

Fast forward two years: Today virtually everyone in the natural health community recognizes that synthetic vitamins are all but useless, which is why conventional medical researchers always choose them to run their bogus clinical trials. That's how they come up with those whopper headlines like "Vitamin E might kill you!" Sure it will if you're using the synthetic, chemically-produced form that you find in many of the conventional name-brand multivitamins (which are mostly made by pharmaceutical companies anyway).

Elavil

Generic Name: amitriptyline (a mee TRIP ti leen)

Brand Names: Vanatrip

What is Elavil?

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Elavil is in a group of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants. Elavil affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced.

Elavil is used to treat symptoms of depression.

Elavil may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Elavil?

Do not use Elavil if you are allergic to amitriptyline, or if you have recently had a heart attack. Do not use Elavil if you have taken cisapride (Propulsid) or used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days.

Effexor

Generic Name: venlafaxine (VEN la fax een)

Brand Names: Effexor, Effexor XR

What is Effexor?

Related Video

Video preview What is Depression?

Dr. Holly takes us inside the brain to show us why depression is more than just a "down mood."

Effexor (venlafaxine) is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs). Effexor affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression.

Effexor is used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety, and panic disorder.

Effexor may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Panic Attack Medications Treatment

Medications, a simple answer – these are the most common way to opt out of attacks though they’re certainly not the final solution to overall behavioral issues and many people have become healthy without using them. Nonetheless, they are currently being handed out for two reasons—because they do work and the second is because they’re handy.
But could those with attacks truly live normally without using these medications? For those who believe in their ability to aid themselves with treatment other than taking medicinal drugs or pills, they are able to but unfortunately for those who are used to the thought of using medications for a cure, it may be a tad hard to not use them.

Cymbalta

Generic Name: duloxetine (du LOX e teen)

Brand Names: Cymbalta

What is Cymbalta?

Related Video

Video preview What is Depression?

Dr. Holly takes us inside the brain to show us why depression is more than just a "down mood."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs). Cymbalta affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression. It is used to treat major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder.

Cymbalta is also used to treat fibromyalgia (a chronic pain disorder), or chronic muscle or joint pain (such as low back pain and osteoarthritis pain).

Bloggers Against Abuse Challenge – Stop Self-Abuse

With the success of previous campaigns: Fundraising Challenge Event and Organ Donation Awareness Campaign, BlogCatalog is back with it’s latest campaign for a good cause – Stop The Abuse.

Bloggers are called to blog about ending all kinds of abuse, be it child abuse, animal abuse or drug abuse, on Sep 27, 2007

I’m writing about something that many people take for granted. I’m writing to put an end to, and stop abusing our body. Stop Self-Abuse!

Ways We Can Stop Abusing Our Bodies And Ourselves

There are all kinds of abuse – mental, emotional, and sexual; but there is also self-abuse, which involves the abuse we put ourselves through primarily physically. Some of the ways that we abuse our bodies are though smoking, drinking, poor eating habits, and poor sleeping habits.