Rick Martin, former NHL great (part of the "French Connection" of the Buffalo Sabres) died in a single car accident last month, apparently from a heart attack that rendered him unconscious causing his car to leave the road and crash into a tree.
Why did a 59-year old professional hockey player suffer a hear attack? He was famous for his cigar smoking:
CDC:
Regular cigar smoking is associated with an increased risk for cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx (voice box), and/or oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth, throat).
Cigar smoking is linked to gum disease and tooth loss.
Heavy cigar smokers and those who inhale deeply may be at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.
Heavy cigar smoking increases the risk for lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Cigar smoke has:
A higher level of cancer-causing substances: During the fermentation process for cigar tobacco, high concentrations of cancer-causing nitrosamines are produced. These compounds are released when a cigar is smoked. Nitrosamines are found at higher levels in cigar smoke than in cigarette smoke.
More tar: For every gram of tobacco smoked, there is more cancer-causing tar in cigars than in cigarettes.
A higher level of toxins: Cigar wrappers are less porous than cigarette wrappers. The nonporous cigar wrapper makes the burning of cigar tobacco less complete than the burning of cigarette tobacco. As a result, cigar smoke has higher concentrations of toxins than cigarette smoke.
Furthermore, the larger size of most cigars (more tobacco) and longer smoking time result in higher exposure to many toxic substances (including carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, ammonia, cadmium, and other substances).
Cigars have Carbon Monoxide, Nicotine, Hydrogen Cyanide, Ammonia, Volatile, Aldehydes, Formaldehyde, Unethane, Naphthalene, Benzene, Vinyle Chloride, Ethylene Oxide, Chromium, Nitrosamines, Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Tar, Cadmium, Radioactive Polonium 210, Nitrogen Compounds, Nitrates, Nitrites and Aromatic Amines ( carcinogens-2-naphthylamine, 4-minobiphenyl).
RIP Rick Martin. But I won't be lighting one up in your memory Rick. Not good Karma