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E-cigarettes May Help Smokers Quit, Improve Health

Posted: June 27, 2012
E-cigarettes May Help Smokers Quit, Improve Health

E-cigarettes May Help Smokers Quit

Switching to e-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes, from traditional tobacco cigarettes may help smokers quit smoking. Furthermore, even substituting a few tobacco cigarettes with e-cigarettes may offer modest improvements in health, says a new study in a working paper from independent university researchers at the Tobacco Harm Reduction project.

E-cigarettes are a device that deliver nicotine to the user by vaporizing a gel composed of water, propylene glycol, flavorings, and nicotine. Because the devices do not expose users to the products of combustion associated with tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes are touted as a safer alternative to smoking.  The risk of death associated with e-cigarettes is similar to the risk associated with other smokeless tobacco products, which is approximately 1 percent of the risk of smoking.

The e-cigarette industry is infamous for making the claim that e-cigarettes will help smokers quit smoking. However, such controversial claims are not yet backed up by legitimate research.

For example, as reported by Medical News Today, a press release for e-cigarettes on The Electronic Cigarette Hub proclaims:

“E-cigarettes have already helped thousands of people, including actress Katherine Heigl. Users say it looks and feels like smoking a real cigarette. The E-cigarette even has the glowing red tip; but unlike a tobacco cigarette, it produces an odorless water vapor – there is no smoke; you don’t light it.”

In the present study, researchers investigated the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation as well as changes in health including the symptoms caused by smoking. The participants in the study included 303 individuals who were enrolled by e-mail and links on various blogs and forums between May 2009 and June 2009.

Of the total number of participants, 91 percent had made attempts to quit smoking before switching to e-cigarettes. Seven-nine percent were using e-cigarettes instead of tobacco cigarettes. Seventeen percent were using e-cigarettes as a partial replacement for tobacco cigarettes. Four percent were using e-cigarettes in addition to tobacco cigarettes.

Furthermore, 91 percent of the participants report an improvement to their general health as well as an improvement in smoking-related symptoms such as cough, sense of taste, and sense of smell since switching to e-cigarettes. Individuals who had completely switched to e-cigarettes from tobacco cigarettes were most likely to experience health improvements, but substituting even a few e-cigarettes for tobacco cigarettes offered some modest health benefits.

However, the claims that e-cigarettes are less dangerous alternative to tobacco cigarettes and that e-cigarettes can help smokers quit smoking are still controversial and inconclusive. Further research needs to be conducted to evaluate the claims reported in the present study.

Would you ever try e-cigarettes in an attempt to quit smoking?



Comments


11 Archived Responses to “ E-cigarettes May Help Smokers Quit, Improve Health ”

  1. Shayne O'Neill
    Jun 28, 2012

    This seems to match my experienced. They are not a silver bullet, your still addicted to nicotine and its very easy to fall back to the coffin nails again, however my anecdotal experience has been that my health improves dramatically and because of the way you inhale these things (one big puff for relief, rather than a rapid series of puffs[doses!] with the regular cigs) it seems to change the way you experience nicotine stress in a way that makes it easier to go without for a while. I think these are generally a positive development but I'd like to one of the big manufacturers take these up, standardize the doseage to make it easier to do science on em, and then run some better long term studies so we can get a clearer picture on the health benefits vs harms (particularly "what is the implication of inhaling propylene glycol").

  2. Jack Rider
    Aug 29, 2012

    I agree with this.
    Electronic Cigarette is one of the safe and effective way of smoking.It is battery powered device and the atomizer of the cigarette heats the nicotine solution in the form of simple water vapor.Smokers can gets various taste while inhaling the vapor which is completely harmless.Electronic Cigarette helps to stop the habit of smoking traditional cigarette which is quite dangerous to our life.Though nicotine is a harmful chemical, but the addition of Propylene Glycol helps to convert the nicotine solution into water vapor, thus nullify the harmful effects of nicotine.
    FDA(Food And Drug Administrator), WHO(World Health Organization), Boston University of Public Health and many other health organization have given thumbs up to the Electronic Cigarette.

    ————————————–
    Jack Rider
    http://www.ecig69.com

  3. James Anderson
    Aug 31, 2012

    Thanks for sharing this post.
    I like to share how I divert to Electronic Cigarette nowadays.
    I was a tobacco smoker from the beginning, in spite of knowing the harmful effects of tobacco smoking I could not leave it.I tried to stop smoking many times, but I failed due to my strong addiction on smoking.But now after hearing about Electronic Cigarette , I used to smoke in E-cigarette and it gives me more pleasure and more quality of smoking than traditional smoking.Now, I am quite comfortable with unique smoking with lots of handy features.FDA(Food And Drug Administrator), WHO(World Health Organization), Boston University of Public Health and many other health organization have given thumbs up to the Electronic Cigarette.

    To know more information on Electronic Cigarette please have a look.
    http://www.ecig69.com

    —————————-
    By
    James Anderson

  4. Ula Dobson Dziki
    Jan 1, 2013

    I have been heavy smoker for years. I tried everything to quit. Then only guilt I felt when I failed. One of my friends bought me as a present e cig. OMG – I haven't smoke one cigarette yet. I cannot believe it! Fact is if you light up cigarette you smoke whole one usually, ( 3 min? ) while e cig you have a puff and that is all you need to don't feel urge of smoking.
    I now really believe first time in my life – I will be able to quit totally even nicotine addiction after while if I want to. Once habit will no longer exist I am sure it will be much easier to even give up nicotine addiction. I recommend to anyone who wants to quit. Frankly if it wasn't my friend I wouldn't buy it. I got sick of trying. But since he bought it for me, I had no choice but try. And so glad I did! And yes it is scary and I do wish it was regulated… but frankly I take my chances! The smell of fingers, house, clothing, not to mention breath! I am happy to say goodbye to smokes! :) God Bless Chinese guy who discovered and make this method available for heavy smokers to help.

  5. Alik Dziki
    Jan 1, 2013

    Remember this my dear sis:
    It is not to be mistaken the addictive power of chemical substance for a weakness of personality.
    I wish YOU MORE POWER

  6. Jon Ellis
    Jan 1, 2013

    I wish you all the best in your quest to give up smoking.


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