Menthol is a natural substance found in mint plants. It’s added to products like throat lozenges, cough syrups, and nasal sprays because it gives a cooling sensation. It can also help relieve pain and irritation. However, menthol does not make tobacco products safer. All cigarettes, including menthol cigarettes, harm nearly every organ in the body.

Tobacco companies add menthol to cigarettes because it makes them taste less harsh and easier to inhale. Menthol masks the taste of tobacco with the flavor of menthol. It makes cigarettes easier to inhale because menthol numbs the burning feeling some people get in their throat when they smoke, especially people who have just started smoking. This makes it easier for young people to start smoking menthol cigarettes compared to non-menthol cigarettes.

Many people who smoke think menthol cigarettes are less harmful than other cigarettes. This is partly because the tobacco industry used to market menthol cigarettes as being safer or healthier than other cigarettes. Ads for menthol cigarettes emphasize their “cool” or “refreshing” taste compared to other cigarettes. They also use pictures of the outdoors and water to emphasize their “cool” or “refreshing” qualities.

Studies have shown that menthol cigarettes make the brain more responsive to the nicotine in tobacco. When people who smoke menthol cigarettes try to quit smoking, they are less likely to succeed than people who smoke non-menthol cigarettes. However, quitting menthol cigarettes is possible.

If you’re ready to take back your health, quitting tobacco is a great place to start. There are a lot of resources available to help you live a tobacco-free life. You can start by speaking with your healthcare provider or by checking out the tools and resources here.