Menthol Cigarettes – A Comparison with Classic Cigarettes

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Mark Pletcher, MD, states "The primary goal of public health officials, physicians, and patients should be to reduce all tobacco smoke exposure regardless of menthol content." This categorically places dangers from non-menthol cigarettes on par with menthol cigarettes. If you noticed or researched more over the internet, you would have, by now, noticed that all theories and myths about menthol content causing more carcinogens are effectively quashed for the moment. If the stated primary goal is reducing exposure to tobacco smokes, it plainly means that.

Apparently it is the African American community that smokes menthol flavored cigarettes more than anyone else. Mark Pletcher had conducted a study some time ago. The secondary result of that research quite interesting found out that it was Black Americans that smoked mentholated cigarettes more. The sample group had 972 menthol cigarette smokers. Less than 14%of them agreed to have smoked non menthol flavors ever when their favorite flavor wasn't available and the rest of them were not in any mood to choose regular cigarettes, come what may. If this wasn't enough surprising to you, take this next bouncer - the percentage of female smokers not prepared to quit and not ready to smoke regular flavors was quite less in comparison to White Americans.

So, you can say that it is the African Americans, regardless of sex, that are smoking menthol cigarettes more. Whether there is any specific reason for this behavior? Is there a socio-economic angle attached to this? These points are not still clear although there are a few unconfirmed hints about this.

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The first myth that is doing the rounds is menthol crystallizes within the smokers' lungs and thus is more harmful. Menthol is an extract of peppermint (Mentha piperita) and corn mint (Mentha arvensis), both of which are in use in cold remedies and toothpastes for centuries. Several animal and clinical tests could not conclusively prove that mint or menthol consumed in any for, burnt or not, can be harmful even in high doses. Neither can it produce organ or blood toxins nor any carcinogens.

Another myth that menthol smoking is more addictive and harder to quit seems to have some truth, although it is far from being proved clinically. There are some statistical suggestions that smokers who chose to smoke menthol flavor are less likely to give up, but the studies are unable to attribute any conclusive reason for this. But looking at how certain brands, including Virginia Slims, are marketing, it appears that the cry that they are targeting African Americans in particular has some substance and that quitting smoking is harder with menthol cigarettes.

However, as long as these myths are contributing to the anti smokers' cause, it is fine.

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Well, I have chosen to climb up the ladder with the first rung being the bottom most. Menthol cigarette smokers exhibit much higher rates of 'tobacco' related cancers. This has got to do many things with high percentages of smoking and sworn chain smoking incidences in African Americans. Also, the rates of relapses and dogged smoking are comparatively higher here. If partial statistics are to be believed, all this and health hazards are lower in Whites. Tobacco with its companions like papers, gums, and filters are the same in both forms excepting that harmless menthol.

Is it really harder to quit? It must be; for there are only two ways for anyone wanting to quit smoking menthol cigarettes- either to give up completely or switch to regulars- both of which facts are tough by the hardcore smokers.