Cigars/Feelings brought about from cigars
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Question
I have been an off and on(mostly off) cigar smoker since i was in 8th grade, back then I thankfully didn't inhale the smoke all that often, but now as I am older I am staring to take lighter, less forceful draws from my cigars, inhaling the smoke to get the flavor. Every so often I do get a feeling of sickness for about 3 seconds, but after around the middle of the cigar I start to get a light headed feeling. I want to know if this is a feeling that is meant to occur or not.
Hi Michael,
If you inhale cigar smoke, then it's not uncommon for you to feel light-headed. Cigar smoke can be a strong irritant so if it gets into your eyes or you choose to inhale, it can indeed make you feel uncomfortable. Fortunately, the more you smoke, the less you'll be affected. Cigar sickness is pretty common with casual smokers, beginner smokers and smokers who are "off and on". Cigar sickness can also occur when people rush their cigars and smoke too fast.
Also, when you smoke and reach the middle of your cigar, you are more likely to be uncomfortable because the cigar is now shorter and the smoke is more likely to get into your eyes.
When smoking, sit in a relaxed, well-ventilated environment and smoke in a slow, relaxing pace. On average, you should take 2 to 3 draws per minute. What you can also do to reduce cigar sickness is sip ice cold water between draws. Not only will this cleanse your palate but it can also make you feel very refreshed.
Hope this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I'll be happy to help.
Regards,
James
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James Yee
Expertise
My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".
Experience
I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.
Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)
Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto
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