May 31 is World No Tobacco Day – which will have a variable impact, depending on which part of the world one lives in.
In the United States, the number of smokers has remained steady at about 20% of the population. But this number is increasing in young males, 18 to 25 years of age who have only a high school education or less.
For those who want to quit smoking on May 31 or on any day, many drugs and paraphernalia have been marketed, the most recent being e-cigarettes. Originally marketed by its Chinese inventor, Hon Lik, in 2004, the e-cigarette vaporizes a liquid (propylene glycol and glycerin) containing nicotine – without the more than 100 harmful chemicals created by burning tobacco. Although it was intended to be an alternative to smoking, some have promoted it as a way to stop smoking.
As the various devices caught on, more and more people – especially young people – adopted the e-cigarette and its various derivatives for recreational use, especially in places where tobacco smoking is forbidden. As a result, health organizations have begun to worry: Are these devices safe? Or are they harmful?
Vaporized smoking certainly avoids the multiple carcinogens produced by burning tobacco. In that regard, e-cigarettes are regarded as safer than smoking tobacco. However, those who use e-cigarettes are 28% less likely to stop smoking than those who quit without them.
And – the vaporized product – produced at high heat – contains some toxins, some carcinogens, some small particles of heavy metal, in addition to nicotine, water, and flavorings, and is dispersed in ultra-fine particles, the size that can travel all the way down into the lungs. Consequently, the immediate side effects of inhaling the vapor is irritated linings of the mouth and throat and increased airway resistance (asthma-like), similar to smoking tobacco cigarettes.
In addition, the inhalation of nicotine has the same effect, whether from tobacco or from a “vaping” device. Nicotine is addictive and has toxic effects on the heart, blood pressure, blood vessels, and kidneys. In addition, the nicotine causes increases in cholesterol, increased arterial plaque formation, increased blood clotting, and increased blood sugar – as well as the acute toxic effects of nicotine: nausea, vomiting, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, restlessness, anger and irritability.
In summary: Yes – inhaling nicotine in an e-cigarette avoids the many carcinogens of tobacco smoke. No – inhaling the nicotine-laced vapor does not help people quit smoking. Yes – using the device is a gateway for many young people to take up smoking tobacco cigarettes. Yes – “vaping” nicotine produces the same toxic and addictive effects as tobacco smoking, except the user is lulled into thinking that it is a safe habit.
The most recent opinions in the general medical community is that e-cigarettes on the whole are a harmful habit – to be avoided, just like tobacco smoking.
Consider the evidence for yourself. Is it a fad, is it an effective medical device, or is it another gateway to addiction? What do you think?