What Are the Effects of Smoking a Pipe?
Pipe smoking is the third ranked form of smoking, behind cigarettes and cigars. As with all forms of smoking, there are health risks.
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Cancer
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As expected, there is the risk of cancer, such as lung, colon, rectum, pancreas and stomach. However, pipe smoking has a higher risk of cancers of the larynx, lungs and oropharynx (the throat area at the back of the mouth).
Teeth and Mouth
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A pipe smoker has three times greater risk of periodontitis (gum disease) and jawbone loss than does a smoker or a nonsmoker. The ability to taste foods is also lessened, creating the need for higher spiced foods.
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Other Risks
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Although there are fewer risks with pipe smoking, a person is at risk for illnesses such as heart disease, lung disease and lip cancer.
Pipe Smoking as a Hobby
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Pipe smokers claim that this form of smoking is only a hobby because there is no inhaling of the smoke into the lungs. Pipe smokers on average enjoy two to three bowls a day, savoring the flavor and aroma of the tobacco before rinsing the mouth out when finished.
Psychological Effect
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It is hard to fully determine the calming and relaxing qualities of pipe smoking. However, such visionaries as Albert Einstein and Mark Twain claimed that enjoying a pipe helped increase productivity, which benefited their work.
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References
- Tobacco.org: Pipe Smoking Dangers
- "Journal of the National Cancer Institute;" Association Between Exclusive Pipe Smoking and Mortality From Cancer and Other Diseases; S. Jane Henley, et. al.; 2004
- American Academy of Periodontology: Cigar and Pipe Smoking Are as Dangerous as Cigarettes to Periodontal Health
