The Risks of Smoking Bidi Cigarettes

The Risks of Smoking Bidi Cigarettes Addiction Nicotine Use The Inside of Cigarettes Print The Risks of Smoking Bidi Cigarettes By Terry Martin facebook twitter Terry Martin quit smoking after 26 years and is now an advocate for those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction. Learn about our editorial policy Terry Martin Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on June 08, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on January 07, 2020 National Cancer Institute More in Addiction Nicotine Use The Inside of Cigarettes After You Quit How to Quit Smoking Nicotine Withdrawal Smoking-Related Diseases Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Coping and Recovery As of Dec. 20, 2019, the new legal age limit is 21 years old for purchasing cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco products in the U.S. Bidis (pronounced bee-dees and also known as beedis) are small hand-rolled cigarettes made of tobacco and wrapped in tendu or temburni  leaf (plants that are native to Asiaâ€"Diospyros melanoxylon). They are  manufactured in India and other southeast Asian countries and exported to more than 100 countries. In India, bidi cigarettes are cheaper and more heavily consumed than traditional commercial cigarettes. It is a common misconception that because the cigarettes are less expensive, they are also less harmful.  That is a dangerous misconception. Cigarettes With Training Wheels Referred to as cigarettes with training wheels by health authorities, the overall appearance and taste of this product are  especially appealing to young people just like clove cigarettes. Typically tied on one or both ends with bits of colorful string, bidis are produced in a variety of flavors that would appeal to kids, including chocolate, mango, vanilla, lemon-lime, mint, pineapple, and cherry. Are Clove Cigarettes a Healthier Way to Smoke? Bidi cigarettes gained popularity in the United States in the mid-1990s. By 1999, there was a call to action against bidis by the State Attorneys General. They urged Congress and federal officials to stop the import of this toxic product geared toward children.   Attorney General Tom Miller stated: Bidis are more damaging to health than traditional cigarettes, and they are flavored to make them attractive to children. Thats a lethal combination. Young American smokers were attracted to bidis  because they were easier to obtain than traditional cigarettes, provided a rush of nicotine, were small and flavored and looked like marijuana joints. Bidi consumption significantly declined in February of 2014 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered four brands of bidi cigarettes to be removed from the market. The bidis manufacturers were not able (or were unwilling) to provide documentation that proves the products do not raise new or different health concerns for the general public.   Brands Removed From The Market Sutra BidisSutra Bidis RedSutra Bidis MentholSutra Bidis Red Cone This bidi ban was the first tobacco ban put in place as a result of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act that gives the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products was in the United States.   Bidis can still be purchased online, but have lost popularity in the United States since the ban. Are Bidi Cigarettes More or Less Harmful Than Regular Cigarettes? In some respects, bidis are more harmful than regular commercial cigarettes produced in the U.S. Bidi cigarettes contain three to five times the amount of  nicotine  as traditional cigarettes.Bidi cigarettes contain more  tar  and  carbon monoxide  than  regular cigarettes. Since they dont have chemicals added to help with combustion, smokers must draw on a bidi cigarette more often and with more force to keep it from going out. This results in higher levels of toxins breathed in than with traditional cigarettes. On regular cigarettes, the average smoker takes 9 puffs. On bidi cigarettes, smokers puff approximately 28 times. The Health Risks of Bidi Smoking People who smoke bidis increase their risk of oral cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, and esophageal cancer.The risk of heart disease and heart attack is three times higher for bidi smokers than nonsmokers.Bidi smoking is associated with emphysema and increases the  risk of chronic bronchitis. Bidi cigarettes are hazardous to human health and should not a safe smoking alternative. Parents of kids in countries where bidi smoking is still prevalent should proactively teach their children early on about the dangers of bidi cigarettes and smoking in general.