Electronic Cigarettes: A Real Alternative?
In recent years, e-cigarettes have become popular as an alternative to gradually stop using nicotine. The product was created by the large industries under the slogan ” quitting smoking is possible “, and it seems that it has acceptance by the public, as it is being commercialized quickly.
However, are they really safe? What do the experts say about this product? Are they less harmful than ordinary cigarettes full of nicotine and tar? Let’s see in detail how these types of cigarettes work and what the World Health Organization (WHO) says about their use.
How do electronic cigarettes work?
At first glance they look like pens with elegant designs. They work by means of a mechanism where the user is limited to aspirating the vapor through a nozzle, which is possible because it has a battery and an atomizer, where the liquid is stored and then transformed into vapor as it passes through a resistance.
As detailed in a publication in the Archives of Bronchopneumology, the liquid that is inhaled (or “ vaped ”) includes nicotine in different levels, in addition to propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin and flavors obtained from extracts of herbs or fruits.
The other side of electronic cigarettes
We will start by saying something that, surely, will make the current situation of electronic cigarettes clear: the World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend the use of electronic cigarettes. On the contrary, it alerts that:
Given this recommendation, the reality of these devices is already presented with some doubts. People have accessed them with the idea of quitting smoking through a mechanism that is not harmful to their health.
However, at the moment, it seems that there is not enough information, research or studies that show that it does not affect health in the long term. So let’s see more aspects that support this theory:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) initiated several investigations where there are still some aspects pending confirmation. For this reason, it points out that the implicit health benefits associated with electronic cigarettes are unfounded or may be based on false information from the companies that market them.
- They do not help you quit smoking, they contain concentrations of propylene glycol, which is irritating when inhaled. Also, it is toxic and can harm the lungs.
- A Portland State University study finds that e-cigarettes produce 15 compounds that when heated, e-cigarette liquid generates chemicals that may not be beneficial to health.
So is it good to go for the electronic cigarette?
We cannot say that the electronic cigarette is an adequate ally to quit smoking, since there are different studies that lean more towards how harmful it is to health. However, there are no final results of these investigations and this product is still being studied.
What we can say is that giving up cigarettes has positive effects from the first moment. While it can go hand in hand with withdrawal symptoms, willpower and a few strategies can help in this goal.
A good diet, the practice of physical exercise and relaxation techniques support the process of quitting smoking. In addition, you can seek psychological help to discover other methods that allow you to completely quit this bad habit.
