The Pros and Cons of E-Cigarettes. Is the Electronic Cigarette a Safe Stop Smoking Aid?

These 5 Signs Warn You That Cancer Maybe Starting Inside Your Body. 

What made you decide to try the e-cigarette?

You can smoke them virtually anywhere. Many say they will help you quit smoking, a plus for people with COPD who often struggle with smoking cessation. Others are skeptical and afraid to try them. The FDA would like to regulate them as medical products. The e-cigarette industry feels that the FDA has no substantiated reason to do so. There's a lot of talk going on about e-cigarettes, so before making a decision to use them, learn the facts about their pros and cons. 

What are E-Cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes for short, are battery-powered devices filled with liquid nicotine (a highly addictive chemical) that is dissolved in a solution of water and propylene glycol. Many of them look like real cigarettes, with a white cylindrical tube, brown filter, and red-glowing tip. Others come in less conspicuous, darker colors.

How Do They Work?

Often termed "vaping," when you take a puff on the end of the e-cigarette tube, a battery heats up the nicotine, which creates a vapor that is then inhaled into the lungs. The end result is a sensation of smoke in the mouth and lungs without really smoking. 

The Upside to E-Cigarettes

Unlike tobacco products, there are no current laws in effect prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes in public places. Case in point, I work in a hospital and a fellow nurse smokes them right there in the nursing station. 

Here's what current research says about the positive aspects of this product: 

In a study of 40 tobacco-dependent smokers, researchers concluded that smoking e-cigarettes alleviated the desire to smoke (after abstaining from smoking overnight), was well-tolerated, and pharmacologically more like a Nicorette inhaler than tobacco. 

Another study of 50 smokers who wanted to reduce the health risks associated with smoking, but not quit completely, concluded that the Eclipse brand of e-cigarettes dramatically decreased the consumption of cigarettes without causing withdrawal symptoms. In addition, when participants smoked Eclipse, the nicotine concentrations in their blood remained fairly stable and their desire to quit altogether remained intact. However, the study concluded that because the Eclipse increased carbon monoxide concentrations in the blood, it may not be a safer choice of cigarette. On the other hand, it caused few, significant adverse events. 

In a case study series, the e-cigarette was found to help three study participants -- who all had a documented history of repeated failed attempts at smoking cessation using professional smoking cessation assistance methods -- quit smoking and remain abstinent for at least 6 months. 

During an online survey conducted in 2010, researchers polled visitors of websites and discussion forums dedicated to the use of the e-cigarette and smoking cessation. Of the 3,587 participants, 70% were former smokers, 61% were men, and the median age was 41 years. On average, participants used the e-cigarette for approximately 3 months, drew 120 puffs/day, and used 5 cartridges/day. Almost all of them used cartridges that contained nicotine. Ninety-six percent said that the e-cigarette helped them quit smoking, while 92% said that it made them smoke less. A majority of the participants said the e-cigarette helped them fight cravings, cope with withdrawal symptoms, and avoid relapsing on cigarettes. 

The Downside of E-Cigarettes

If you are a savvy (perspicaz, agudo) consumer, both positive and negative aspects of the product you are considering should be scrutinized before you purchase it. The e-cigarette is no exception. Take a look at what some of the research says about the negative aspects of the e-cigarette: 

A 2010 research paper published in Tobacco Control suggests that the e-cigarette lacks important regulatory factors, such as essential health warnings, proper labelling, clear instructions on how to use them, and safe disposal methods. The authors of the study also found that some of the e-cigarette cartridges leaked, which could cause toxic exposure to nicotine. However, the authors suggested that it is possible that if the e-cigarette were used as a short-term bridge to smoking cessation, the benefits might outweigh the risks. 

On their website, the FDA states that states that "E-cigarettes may contain ingredients that are known to be toxic to humans, and may contain other ingredients that may not be safe." They also suggest that because e-cigarette manufacturers are not required to submit clinical study data to them, the public has no way of knowing "whether e-cigarettes are safe for their intended use, what types or concentrations of potentially harmful chemicals are found in these products, or how much nicotine they are inhaling when they use these products." The FDA is also concerned that the marketing efforts of e-cigarettes may increase addiction to nicotine, especially in young people, encouraging them to experiment with real tobacco products. 

The Best Way To Quit Smoking

How you choose to quit smoking is a matter of personal choice. The best method is the one that works for you. With this in mind, doing whatever it takes to be successful -- and safe -- is how many people ultimately approach it.

Vocabulary

quit smoking / smoking cessation: dejar de fumar
less conspicuous: menos vistosos / menos atractivos
take a puff: hacer una calada
the upside to...: el lado positivo de... / la ventaja
current law: ley/ legislación vigente
withdrawal symptoms: síntomas de abstinencia
adverse events: reacción adversa
smoking cessation /aids assistance methods – ayudas/ métodos para dejar de fumar
remain abstinent- mantener la abstinencia, permanecer abstinente
poll: sondear / sondeo
former smoker: ex fumador
fight cravings- combater el ansia, el deseo
cope with withdrawal symptoms- hacer frente, afrontar los síntomas de abstinencia
avoid relapsing on ... evitar recaer
The downside to... : la desventaja, el aspecto negativo
safe disposal methods: métodos de eliminación seguros
harmful chemicals: productos químicos dañinos

http://copd.about.com/od/quittingsmoking/a/E-Cigarettes.htm