E-cigarettes are the most popular smoking cessation drug in the country, and millions of ex-smokers use them, to stop smoking. But what we know about them, isn't exactly reassuring. Some experts think so, that e-cigarettes are better for you than regular cigarettes, but others say, they are not at all safe. We'll break it down, what is known about e-cigarettes – and unknown – is, so that you can decide for yourself, whether vaping for you or another person in your life, who wants to stop smoking, could be the right thing.
What is an electronic cigarette?
An electronic cigarette is a device, which releases nicotine in the form of vapor. They are also known as Pods, electronic cigarette pens
Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, which occurs in tobacco, but there is no tobacco in the e-cigarette. Instead, this battery-powered device contains a cartridge, which is filled with a liquid, which contains propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin (often referred to as PG/VG).
How do electronic cigarettes work??
The electronic cigarette is a battery-powered device, that's a solution (E-Liquid) heated and an inhalable steam generated. The e-cigarette consists of three parts:
The cartridge or reservoir, that contains the liquid
A heating element, called atomizer
A power source (usually a lithium battery) for heating the atomizer
How safe are they??
E-cigarettes or vaping devices are not regulated by the FDA. They contain nicotine and other chemicals, that can harm your health. You should think twice, before inhaling the vapor into your lungs. The long-term effects of vaping are still unknown, but it's worth mentioning, that many e-cigarette manufacturers do not disclose all of the ingredients in their products.
They also produce carcinogenic substances such as formaldehyde (a chemical, which is used in embalming) and acrolein (an irritant). This is worrying, as these two chemicals have been linked to the development of cancer, if they are inhaled in large quantities over a long period of time.
They can help smokers, to stop smoking.
There are many people, who are interested in e-cigarettes and their effects on smokers. They can help smokers, to stop smoking, by telling them the facts about e-cigarettes:
E-cigarettes are not a complete replacement for smoking.
E-cigarettes can have harmful health effects, which, however, are low compared to cigarettes. The decision is still open.
The long-term effects of e-cigarettes are still unknown. The FDA has not yet released any conclusions about the effectiveness and safety of e-cigarettes, and the decision is still open.
What do the public health experts think??
Health experts believe, that e-cigarettes are probably safer than regular cigarettes. However, they are still dangerous and can cause many of the same health problems as smoking.
E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is addictive and can damage the lungs in the long term. They also contain other chemicals, which are linked to cancer and heart disease and can be harmful, when inhaled into the lungs (this is called “Passivdampf” designated).
Some people, who use e-cigarettes, start later, smoking conventional tobacco products such as cigarettes, or even consume marijuana through them.
What do the doctors say??
Doctors are concerned about the long-term effects of e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes have not been thoroughly tested and are not a safe alternative to cigarettes. The FDA has not approved e-cigarettes as a replacement for smoking cessation.
E-cigarette manufacturers have used marketing tactics, which make them appear safer than regular cigarettes, similar to “light” or “low fat” Diet foods, that don't always last, what they promise.
It is true, that we don't know, whether e-cigarettes are completely safe. But they are probably better than regular cigarettes, which have been proven to contain dozens of cancer-causing chemicals and are definitely not safe for anyone to smoke. So if you are a smoker, who wants to stop smoking, or even just someone, who likes the idea of an e-cigarette, but it's not quite there yet, it might be worth it, try them out.
Electronic cigarettes are a relatively new technology, but they are already used by millions of people around the world. Although we are still learning about the health effects of e-cigarettes and beyond, how best to use them, but there is little doubt about it, that they are much safer than traditional cigarettes. There are also references to this, that using e-cigarettes can help smokers, to stop smoking traditional tobacco products completely!
