What are the effects of menthol cigarettes?

Menthol has a cooling and anesthetic (or pain killing) effect. This also decreases the cough reflex and can soothe the dry throat feeling that many smokers have. As a result, menthol smokers may inhale more deeply, hold the smoke in the lungs longer, and get more exposure to the dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke.

Are menthol cigarettes more harmful?

A recent comprehensive review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that menthol cigarettes are likely associated with greater risks of smoking dependence and thereby a greater public health threat than non-menthol cigarettes (Food and Drug Administration, 2013).

Why are menthol cigs worse for you?

What does the research say about the dangers of menthol cigarettes? Because menthol flavoring masks the harsh taste of cigarette smoke, menthol smokers engage in more intense smoking behaviors than smokers of regular cigarettes. As a result, they suffer greater damage to their health.

Do they still sell menthol cigarettes?

At the end of April, the Food and Drug Administration announced its plans to ban menthol cigarettes, the last form of flavored cigarette allowed in the United States.

What are the effects of banning menthol cigarettes in Canada?

“The positive effects of the Canada menthol ban suggest that a U.S. menthol ban would lead to greater benefits since menthol cigarettes are much more popular in the U.S. From our findings, we estimate that banning menthol cigarettes in the U.S. would lead an additional 923,000 smokers to quit, including 230,000 African-American smokers.”

Why are menthol cigarettes used in Lite cigarettes?

Tobacco companies use menthol to replace nicotine in “lite” cigarettes since it provides the same or greater impact as nicotine. The FDA found that menthol in cigarettes is likely associated with increased smoking addiction and greater difficulty quitting.

How does menthol affect your ability to quit smoking?

The FDA found that menthol in cigarettes is likely associated with increased smoking addiction and greater difficulty quitting. People who smoke menthols are more likely to smoke their first cigarette within 5 minutes of waking and to awaken during the night to smoke.

What are the effects of menthol on the lungs?

Furthermore, menthol’s cooling effects in the lungs allow you to inhale more often, more deeply and hold the smoke longer, increasing lung exposure to nicotine. Menthol stimulates the same nerves in the mouth and throat as nicotine and increases the favorable impact associated with smoking.