'Hyped' cigar smoking poses similar dangers as cigarettes

A new study has examined that a new trend among smokers known as "hyping" might be sending a wrong message about how to avoid cigarette and cigar smoking dangers.

The study conducted at West Virginia University (WVU) observed that hyping, a cigarillo which is a smaller, leaner type of cigar is believed by many to significantly reduce the amount of cancer-causing properties associated with tobacco products.

Melissa Blank, assistant professor in the West Virginia University Department of Psychology, asserted that to this day, they don't know where this idea came from that this is a "cancer paper" and nobody has been able to find anything in the literature about the origins of this practice.

Removing the internal layer of tobacco was not found to alter the level of nicotine exposure, nor did it alter the perception of satisfaction with the product. It did, however, provide a significant reduction in the amount of carbon monoxide taken in by the smoker.

Blank said that something about this practice may generate less carbon monoxide than other elements and i.e., if one removes that component, one may get decreased exposure to carbon monoxide acutely.

A possible explanation for the reduction in carbon monoxide exposure is the aeration of the tobacco. By removing the inner layer, more air may be drawn in while the cigarillo is burning, much in the same way "light" cigarettes are marketed.

It could be that the cigarillo just didn't contain the same amount of tobacco as an unmodified product.

Blank added that this popular practice among cigarillo smokers just keeps getting perpetuated by young people and hyping doesn't mean one is reducing their carbon monoxide to a level that's going to help them long term with their health.