Electronic cigarettes provide an alternative to smoking tobacco. Sometimes known as E-cigs, they are being touted as a real substitute to smoking cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes are battery powered devices which allow for the intake of nicotine by the way of a vaporized solution. The e-cig provides the sensations similar to that of smoking tobacco without the smoke.
So what are the benefits of smoking Electronic cigarettes? Are E-cigs a healthier alternative, do they assist in stopping smoking?.
Alternative to traditional cigarettes?
An E-cigarette is by no means a ‘healthy cigarette’ It is however an alternative which allows you to inhale a vapour that contains nicotine but no tar and other substances found in cigarettes such as arsenic and formaldehyde.
My first point of call was to look at the NHS Smoke free website to see whether they recommend E-cigarettes for Nicotine replacement therapy.
There are 6 different types of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) that are available and supported by the NHS in the UK depending on how many you smoke every day:
- Patches
- Gum
- Inhalator’s
- Nasal spray
- Lozenge
- Microtab – placed under tongue to deliver nicotine through the mouths lining
- Champix – A new non-nicotine and non-antidepressant drug, which has been developed specially to help smokers give up and is only available on prescription.
The NHS Smoking help line does not provide any views on e-cigarettes as it has not been researched. The NHS provide an excellent service allowing you to call or chat online with their reps. Please visit http://smokefree.nhs.uk/ for more information.
Compared to wikipedia, The health issues of using electronic cigarettes are currently unknown. Several studies regarding the long-term health effects of inhaling nicotine vapour are currently in progress. Additionally, the World Health Organisation cannot consider the electronic cigarette to be an appropriate nicotine replacement therapy, and does not endorse the product. Its appears more research is required to obtain the endorsements of governing bodies for the use of e-cigarettes as a means of stop smoking and the legal stance of each country in relation to the electronic cigarette also differs.
Several organisations are completing independent research on e-cigs such as CASAA & University of Geneva
There’s also been clinical trials carries out in New Zealand as cited here
Benefits of E-cigarettes
- Cheaper than normal cigarettes
- Do not contain all the chemicals found in normal cigarettes
- The end glows and it feels like youre smoking
- No staining of teeth or smokers breath
- No second hand smoke
- No Flame so no fires
- No dirty ashtrays to clean
** Note KickSmokingASAP.com is not responsible for any mishaps that may occur by using E-Cigarettes. We’d recommend completing your own research prior to purchasing E-Cigarettes as well as consulting your doctor prior to use.
