If you are someone who is trying to quit smoking then chances are that someone has at least once mentioned the use of e cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid. While the road to quitting smoking was always difficult, it has now become even more confusing. With so many products and so many strategies, it can be difficult to identify the right quitting method for yourself. But today, we will focus particularly on the use of e cigarettes as smoking cessation aid.
The world has recently witnessed a growing craze of vaping. You must have also noticed many teenagers carrying compact electronic devices in their hands and smoking. There are multiple factors that have contributed to the popularity of these devices. They are now being considered as a social token that makes you cool. The more funky flavor or colorful device you have, the cooler you are! In addition to this, the convenience and portability has made it a hit among people. They fit in the modern lifestyle. The tasty and wide range of flavors are also a point that make them a popular choice among teenagers and adults, alike!
Additionally, vaping is on the rise across the globe. Especially among youth. The disposable kind of e-cigarettes are becoming more popular than any traditional tobacco product due to their ease of use. According to the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than 2 million U.S. middle and high school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2021, with more than 8 in 10 of those youth using flavored e-cigarettes. These statistics are definitely alarming.
Clearly, there is no doubt about their popularity.
But how much do we understand about them? Do we know how they function? Or do we have any idea about why they are now being considered as an ‘alternatives’ to smoking? Should that be the case even?
Well, today, we will take a closer look at the flavorful world of vapes and understand the complexities that surround them. But let’s start with the basics.
What are e-cigarettes and how are they different from traditional cigarettes?
Unlike traditional cigarettes, e cigarettes come in different forms. Some of them look like normal cigarettes, others like the fancy gadgets from movies. But at the end, all of them basically have the same components:
- A rechargeable lithium battery. Some can even be charged with a USB cord connected to your computer.
- A cartridge containing nicotine, flavoring and chemicals like glycerin or polyethylene glycol. Since they are not regulated, they often don’t list all of their ingredients.
- An atomizer, which consists of a heating coil.
- An LED light to simulate a burning cigarette.
- A sensor that registers when you take a drag and activates the atomizer and LED light.
How do they work?
Basically, an atomizer heats the liquid (often called “e-juice”) to its boiling point and that becomes vapor you can inhale. That is why smoking e-cigarettes is often called “vaping.” Remember the cheesy fog machine you had at your prom? It’s the same principle.
You can still get three-piece e-cigarettes with a separate battery, atomizer and refillable cartridge. Most popular brands of e-cigarettes, however, combine the atomizer and cartridge into one “cartomizer.” These have the advantage of being disposable, so you don’t have to spend time cleaning or refilling your cartridge. The cartridges also last longer because the polyfoam surrounding the heating coil limits the amount of liquid that is vaporized at once.
So, does it produce smoke or what?
It produces a big cloud of vapor, which dissipates very quickly and has the subtle smell of whatever flavor cartridge you buy, like mint, tobacco or raspberry.
Interesting facts to know about e cigarettes:
1. Vaping is less harmful than traditional smoking, but it is not completely harmless
The reason behind people considering vaping safer than cigarettes lies in the fact that they do not burn any tobacco. As there is no combustion happening, there is no ‘smoke’. However, vaping is not completely harmless. Vapes do contain some chemicals like aerosol, nicotine and more. Researchers are still trying to fully understand the long-term health effects of inhaling these vaporized substances. There have been cases of lung damage and heart issues that are directly related to vaping as well. But to what extent – it is still under study.
2. Electronic cigarettes are as addictive as traditional cigarettes
Both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes contain nicotine, which research suggests may be as addictive as heroin and cocaine. So even when you are not inhaling the other harmful chemicals, you are still consuming the highly addictive nicotine. And when you will stop consuming it, your body will experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, they very closely mimic the hand to mouth action of traditional cigarettes. This also creates a psychological dependence on them.
- Electronic cigarettes are not the most effective smoking cessation tool
Many people see e-cigarettes or vapes as means to let go of traditional smoking. They see it as a form of NRT but it is quite debatable. As vaping is comparatively new, there is still a lot of research that is going around its utility and potential side effects.
So, if you are someone who is looking for a reliable and effective smoking cessation tool, then our suggestion is to stick to medically approved NRT products like Nicotine Gums, nicotine tablets, nicotine patches and so on. These are comparatively safer and can help you live a smoke-free life, given that you use them as instructed.
In conclusion, it is important to stay on top of things like this that directly impact our health. Be it smoking, vaping, or alcohol – all these things have some sort of effect on our bodies, So, if you want to live a healthy life, it is important that you let go of these habits before they do any serious damage.
