Bidis

Bidis or Beedis
Bidis are slim, hand-rolled, unfiltered cigarettes.  Due to the relatively low combustibility and non-porous nature of the leaves, it requires more frequent and deeper puffs by the smoker to keep the bidis lit. As a result, it is harder on the smoker’s lungs than cigarettes rolled in paper.Studies have shown that bidis produced 3 times the amount of carbon monoxide and nicotine and approximately five times the amount of tar as cigarettes.
Health risks:

  • Bidi smoking increases the risk for oral, lung, stomach, and esophageal cancer.
  • Bidi smokers are three times more likely to suffer from a coronary heart disease and a heart attack than a non-smoker.
  • Bidi smoking is associated with emphysema.
  • There is nearly a fourfold increase risk for chronic bronchitis for bidi smokers.

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/tobacco_industry/bidis_kreteks/index.htm

http://www.who.int/tobacco/publications/prod_regulation/bidi_smoking_public_health.pdf?ua=1

Delnevo CD, Pevzner ES, Hrywna M, Lewis MJ. Bidi Cigarette Use Among Young Adults in 15 States. Preventive Medicine 2004;39:207–11 [cited 2015 Nov 9].

Gupta PC, Asma S. Bidi Smoking and Public Health. [PDF–2.52 MB] New Delhi: Ministry of Health and Family Services, Government of India, 2008 [accessed 2015 Nov 9].

Pais P, Pogue J, Gerstein H, Zachariah E, Savitha D, Jayprakash S, Nayak, PR, Yusuf S. Risk Factors for Acute Myocardial Infarction in Indians: A Case-Control Study. Lancet 1996;348:358–63 [cited 2015 Nov 9].

Rahman M, Fukui T. Bidi Smoking and Health. Public Health 2000;114:123–7 [cited 2015 Nov 9].

Rahman M, Sakamoto J, Fukui T. Bidi Smoking and Oral Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Cancer2003;106:600–4 [cited 2015 Nov 9].

Sankaranarayanan R, Duffy SW, Padmakumary G, Nair SM, Day NE, Padmanabhan TK. Risk Factors for Cancer of the Oesophagus in Kerala, India. International Journal of Cancer, 1991;49:485–9 [cited 2015 Nov 9].