Menthol is an organic compound present in plants such as mint, spearmint, and peppermint. The combination of menthol and tobacco helps to make our mouth and nose feel cool while smoking menthol cigarettes.
The African-American population prefers smoking menthol cigarettes which are particularly well-liked in the warmer US environments.
It has been shown by research that people smoking menthol cigarettes tend to light up more often as compared to the regular cigarettes which do not have any anti anxiety characteristic.
In the following paragraphs, we will focus on the difference between menthol and regular cigarettes. But first, let us take a look at the history of menthol cigarettes.
History of Menthol Cigarettes
Menthol was first included in cigarettes by the tobacco companies in the 1920’s. The Spud Menthol Cooled Cigarettes where introduced by the Axton-Fisher Tobacco Company in 1924, and after 3 years the immensely popular brand, Kool arrived on the market.
Other American menthol cigarette brands including Camel Menthol, American Spirits Menthol, Misty and Marlboro Menthol came out over time while the British brands included Lambert & Butler, JPS, Sterling, and Richmond.
Approximately 1 in every 3 cigarettes smoked in the country includes menthol. In fact, menthol-flavored cigarettes are preferred by more than 80% of the African-American smokers.
Unlike the other cigarette ingredients, these cigarettes are not restricted by the government regulations which were implemented when the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was signed by President Obama.
What Makes Smoking Menthol Cigarette More Unsafe?
1. Enhanced Exposure to Nicotine
It is more comfortable to smoke menthol cigarettes given that menthol is responsible for reducing discomfort, irritation, as well as itchiness which are usually connected with tobacco smoke.
Consequently, the first-time smokers prefer to smoke menthol cigarettes, and their experimentation often turns to regular usage.
On top of that, because of the cooling effects of menthol, you tend to inhale more often and hold the smoke for a long time thus increasing lung exposure to the harmful nicotine.
Apart from being addictive, nicotine also triggers heart condition, malignancy, and other ailments.
2. Addictive Effects
Similar to nicotine, the identical nerves in our mouth and throat are stimulated by menthol which boosts the favorable impact connected with smoking.
Menthol is used by the cigarette companies in place of nicotine in “lite” cigarettes since it offers similar or even greater effect as nicotine.
According to the FDA, menthol is responsible for enhanced smoking addiction and individuals also find it quite challenging to quit the habit.
Menthol cigarette smokers tend to start smoking within a few minutes of getting up from sleep and they likewise smoke during the night for keeping awake.
Moreover, as compared to the non-menthol smokers, menthol cigarette smokers have enhanced cravings for tobacco.
3. Harmful Health Effects
It is a fact that smoking cigarette is the major cause of lung cancer along with other cancers throughout the system. Smoking likewise leads to long-term obstructive pulmonary condition as well as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arterial blood vessels).
Atherosclerosis can result in stroke, heart condition, in addition to peripheral artery disorder. Smokers suffer from a lower quality of life mainly because of a reduced lifespan and smoking-related ailments.
Instead of reducing the harmful effects of smoking, menthol helps to get started and become hooked and individuals often find it very difficult to quit. In 2011, the FDA suggested menthol cigarettes be banned from the marketplace.
However, this recommendation continues to be under review event today.
4. No Therapeutic Benefits
Menthols were originally marketed by the cigarette companies during the 1950s and the 1960s mainly for healing purposes, and afterward, they were promoted as a relaxing and healthy substitute for the regular cigarettes.
These messages continue to linger in spite of being patently fake. According to a report published in the “Nicotine & Tobacco Research” April 2010 issue, it was revealed that a considerable number of people considered menthol cigarettes to have therapeutic effects, for example, providing relief to a stuffy nose or relaxing an aching throat.
The FDA stresses that menthol cigarettes do not provide any therapeutic or health benefits although menthol does offer a chilling sensation along while blunting bitterness.
5. More Expensive
As compared to the popular, well-known brands such as Camel and Marlboro, the menthol cigarettes are less pricey at the moment.
In fact, the price of the inexpensive full flavor cigarettes is almost same as that of the premium-quality menthol cigarettes.
Advantages of Menthol Cigarettes over Regular Cigarettes
- Since menthol is made from natural extracts, menthol cigarettes enable you to intake menthol without much risk.
- Light and enjoyable flavor are offered by these cigarettes.
- They likewise provide a refreshing and cool feeling to the lungs. The smoker will experience a relaxing coolness, particularly with deep inhalations.
- Unlike the other classic cigarette brands, any chain smoker will get more satisfaction by smoking menthol cigarettes.
- As mentioned previously, the intake of menthol tends to be safe since the ingredients break down into innocuous chemical substances once they reach the lungs. On top of that, they are going to be excreted from the body by natural means.
- There is no need to search for the menthol cigarettes forever. Both regular and menthol cigarettes are made by the cigarette makers for mass consumption.
- A variety of menthol cigarettes is available nowadays and one won’t feel frustrated or unhappy with the flavor in addition to the design of the packages.
Therefore, it is the smoker’s decision to pick his or her favorite brand and enjoy the flavor over and over. Each version is unique, and consequently, one should never waste any opportunity to taste different menthol cigarette brands.
Conclusion
Generally speaking, when talking about the difference between menthol and regular cigarettes, there are several important ones to mention. The taste happens to be the main difference given that its relaxing aftertaste is accountable for the thriving popularity of menthol cigarettes.
In fact, numerous smokers around the globe have switched to menthol cigarettes, and this encouraged the major cigarette companies to introduce the likes of Winston, Camel, Virginia, and Marlboro. There are many folks who exclusively smoke menthol cigarettes on a regular basis. Maybe, the time has arrived for milder and relaxing flavors. Nobody should question this proven fact!
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