Yes, cigars have nicotine in them, which is considered a highly addictive substance. In addition, cigar smoke and cigars, in general, have carcinogenic compounds. While I won’t refute medical evidence or scientific fact, I will mention that nicotine addiction, often experienced by cigarette smokers, seems to be far less frequent in cigar smokers. Take that as you will.
Nicotine can be addictive either way, especially for certain personality types.
It depends. A cigar might contain anywhere from 100 to 400 milligrams of nicotine on the high end. The tobacco content and the types of leaves used determine the amount of nicotine in a finished or rolled cigar.
That’s because nicotine is a naturally occurring chemical in tobacco leaves, and it’s the main alkaloid present.
Nicotine concentrations actually decrease during fermentation. As the tobacco leaves age, the nicotine breaks down naturally, which also creates the ammonia smell. Because certain types of tobacco leaves contain varying concentrations, and that concentration further breaks down during fermentation — almost all tobacco used in cigars undergoes fermentation — there’s never really a clear amount of nicotine from cigar to cigar. Some are stronger than others, which is why many cigar enthusiasts refer to strength when talking about profiles or reviewing their experiences.
How much nicotine is absorbed by the body while smoking?
Like smoking cigarettes, when you smoke a cigar your body absorbs the nicotine. But unlike cigarettes, which are meant to be directly inhaled, cigars are more often enjoyed via the mouth, palate, or nasal cavities if you retrohale. You really shouldn’t be inhaling cigar smoke, anyway. It’s a recipe for getting really sick really fast.
That being said, because cigars are enjoyed differently, the nicotine absorption tends to be lower. Moreover, the types of tobacco leaves, the size of the cigar, and how much you actually smoke all affect the amount of nicotine your body is exposed to.
Please note that I am not negating the negative health effects of nicotine or cigar smoke here. The reality is that cigars are smoked differently and so exposure is altered.
Generally, nicotine can remain in the body for up to three days. Your body’s health and patterns can alter this. For example, drinking a lot of water and exercising can help flush out the nicotine faster.
Do cigarillos and small cigars have nicotine, too?
Yes, all forms of tobacco have nicotine in them, including small cigars, cigarillos, cigarettes, and beyond. Again, they may have far lower concentrations, not just due to the size but also the types of tobacco used for the cigar. But they still definitely contain nicotine in varying amounts.
What is nicotine sickness or ‘nic-sick’ and how does it happen?
If you’re not used to smoking cigars, or you smoke a cigar with too much nicotine than your body can handle, you can start to feel a little sick. You might feel nauseous or vomit, stomachaches, an increased heart rate, dizziness, high anxiety, and other effects. It really depends on your body, how it handles nicotine, and how much you’re exposed to.
That doesn’t mean you’re going to feel this way every time you smoke a cigar. In my experience, it happens more often if you haven’t eaten a hearty meal or smoke on an empty stomach, and if you don’t smoke with a beverage. That’s why I tend to recommend sweet beverages with your cigars, even soda if you don’t like alcohol.
Briley has over 16 years in the publishing and content marketing business. He's been writing about cigars for nearly half that in various forms. What makes him a tour de force is he also smokes them.
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