Cigars are one of the most common vices people have. Although it can be soothing to smoke a cigar, there are concerns involved. It can cause heart disease, lung cancer, and other health issues that have an impact on your general well-being.

However, the distinction between a pastime and an addiction to cigar smoking is unclear since a pastime can be healthy and enjoyable. In contrast, addiction often leads to illness or death. In this article, we’ll analyze cigar smoking’s potential as a pastime, as well as when it might qualify as an addiction.

Cigar smoking is a pastime and not an addiction, but it can easily become one if left unaddressed.

Smoking cigars is a pastime and not an addiction, but it may quickly turn into one, and tobacco addiction, specifically nicotine addiction, is something else entirely. If you start smoking early in life, the obsession with the pleasure of cigars and wanting to smoke one as soon as possible can be overwhelming.

For instance, if you smoke cigars while you’re under stress, it can be harder to stop, or, worse still, you might grow dependent on them anytime stress arises. And being dependent on cigars can lead to addiction.

The common perception of cigars is that they are a risk-free alternative to smoking or cigarettes, despite the fact that this is never the case. Although excessive alcohol consumption can be harmful to your health, many people assume that cigars are not the same as alcohol.

A big part of what makes a cigar addicting is nicotine.

It’s common knowledge that nicotine is a very addictive substance that can be found in any tobacco product; multiple researches have already proved that. A study by Medical News Today found that nicotine increases heart rate and how much oxygen the heart uses, as well as giving a brief feeling of tranquility and well-being.

Nicotine will also cause an increase in endorphins, which are hormones that help with pain relief, stress relief, and mood improvement. So it’s no wonder some would smoke a cigar whenever they look for something that will reduce their stress or get a sense of peace, even if it would cost them their health.

Additionally, nicotine is just as addictive as other drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines, and for some drinkers, it might even be just as addictive as alcohol.

Smoking cigarettes is generally acknowledged to be addicting.

Researchers, physicians, and other professionals generally concur that smoking cigars are addictive, and statistics demonstrating the rise in cigar smoking as a proportion provide evidence for this.

The Rogel Cancer Center‘s data, for instance, demonstrate that while cigarette smoking has declined 34% in the United States since 2000, the rate of cigar smoking has also climbed 124% during that same period.

What’s worse is that no specific type of people is being targeted in the data since all people, it may be teenagers, adults, or even kids, are part of the cause why cigar smoking percentages rise.

The 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that around 4.04 million, or 27.1%, of high school students, reported using any tobacco product. The preference for cigar smoking was stated by 7.6% of users who confirmed their use.

Moreover, many people have become a victim of cigar addictions. While some people have already died, others are battling illnesses they got because of smoking, and most are currently experiencing difficulty or loss in some senses, such as speaking, which will need the use of a device called the electrolarynx.

What can be used as a substitute for cigars as a pastime to prevent it from becoming an addiction?

If you’re someone who uses cigars to relieve stress or increase mood, exercise can be a great pastime to do and will eventually become a habit if you do it consistently. The significant part is that it can help you battle or prevent serious illnesses like cancers which are the most common health condition you’ll get from smoking cigars.

According to numerous studies, exercise can increase the release of your happy hormones, which, from the adjective itself, can make you feel better as much as cigars do when you’re under the weather. Aside from that, exercising helps you become fit, more focused, and energetic throughout the day and won’t destroy your lungs and heart.

Joining a support group is not an alternative, but it might help you stop smoking cigars. Here, you’ll be able to hear the various accounts of several cigar smokers that had a negative experience with their pastime becoming an addiction. You can surely get a lesson from them and think twice about your decision to continue smoking cigars. You will also feel motivated by your goal.

How may a cigar addiction be gradually overcome?

Withdrawing from cigars is not something you can do overnight since it also has risks. It may seem as though you are doing yourself a favor by finally taking the necessary steps to stop smoking, but in reality, you are not because sudden cigar withdrawal can lead to a heart attack.

Suppose you are fortunate enough not to experience a heart attack after going on a day without smoking cigars; in that case, what will happen is that you may experience a strong want to start up again, which will defeat the purpose of your plan.

In short, you have to quit smoking cigars gradually, giving your body and mind time to adjust to your dependence on cigars. It could take days, weeks, months, or even years. It will surely take some time before you can successfully avoid smoking cigars.

Quitting smoking cigars also sounds easy, but it’s not. There are a lot of symptoms you’ll feel once you’re in the process of doing so, such as cigar cravings, mood swings, trouble sleeping and concentrating, weight fluctuation, and many more. It may be more difficult for some people to stop smoking cigars when they experience these symptoms, so it’s great if you can discuss your decision with your doctor as well. This way, you’ll have someone to help you through the process or in case you’ll experience relapse.