E-cigarettes are gaining in popularity. You may have seen them being used in places traditional cigarettes have long been banned in and around Cleveland, and you may be using them yourself. But are they really better than traditional cigarettes? If your goal is kicking cigarette addiction, are you trying to give up cigarettes or nicotine? Here’s an excerpt from an interesting article on the subject from Dr. Nina Radcliff, and there’s a link below to the full text. And if you’re thinking about kicking your nicotine addiction or any other addiction, give us a call— we can help.
Are e-cigarettes safe?
Safer does not mean safe. Less dangerous does not mean not dangerous. The fact is e-cigarettes do not contain many toxic compounds found in traditional cigarettes. Additionally, because the vapor quickly dissipates, it does not pose the same harm to bystanders as second-hand smoke.
However, e-cigarettes still contain nicotine which is a highly addictive, cancer-causing compound that increases the “va-per’s” heart rate and blood pressure.
Do e-cigarettes help you quit?
Depends on whom you ask. The truth of the matter is smokers are addicted to nicotine and e-cigarettes continue to feed into the addiction. Nicotine patches and gum slowly release small amounts into the body. However, e-cigarettes create a freebase form of nicotine that goes quickly from the lungs to the heart and brain. There is the potential of putting people in “limbo” of wanting to quit and having this hope, but allowing them to continue utilizing nicotine and the ritual of smoking (even in places where traditional cigarettes are banned).
Read the full article here.