Washington, February 18: While many believe cigars and pipes as safe ways to smoke, a new study links them to the similar respiratory diseases as those caused by smoking cigarettes.
Cigarette smoking had long been known as a major risk factor contributing to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
According to the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, smoking cigars and pipes also doubles the risk of developing airway damage and subsequently COPD.
Many studies have also reported an increased risk of mouth and throat malignancies, heart disease and lung cancer in those smoking pipes and cigars.
Scientists concluded that smoke, regardless of being from cigarettes, pipes or cigars, will result in the absorption of an addictive chemical known as nicotine, which is responsible for lung damage in smokers.
“Physicians should consider pipe and cigar smoking a risk factor for COPD and counsel their patients to quit,” said lead researcher Graham Barr.
—-Agencies