Electronic cigarettes deliver a hit of nicotine in gas form, allowing users to get a fix without the smoke regular cigarettes produce.
Sounds better than smoking, right? Well, the jury’s still out on the health effects of e-cigarettes. Health officials say the devices, which were unregulated as of April 2014, may contain dangerous additives and should be regulated.
Meanwhile, researchers from the University of California say the concept of smokers using e-cigarettes to help themselves quit the real thing may be a bunch of hot air.
Smokers were asked about their smoking habits over a one-year period. The study included smokers who use e-cigarettes, which is called vaping (vay-ping). The survey results showed that vaping did not make smokers more likely to give up traditional cigarettes. And, among the more than 800 participants still smoking traditional cigarettes at the end of the study, e-cig use was not associated with a reduction in the number of tobacco cigarettes they smoked.
It seems many smokers are using e-cigarettes to get additional nicotine. Other studies in the past few years also have concluded that e-cigarettes really don’t help people quit smoking. Still, research has shown the devices are often marketed as smoking cessation aids.
E-cigarettes can pose danger even when they’re not on, a report from the American Association of Poison Control Centers shows. The organization cites steady increases in cases of people harmed by the liquid nicotine cartridges that fuel e-cigs. Just a small amount dripped on the skin or ingested can cause severe skin irritation, vomiting and seizures. The highly concentrated nicotine could kill a child.
If you really want to kick tobacco, vaping may not be the best option. Talk with a counselor or join a smoking cessation group. Recruiting your family and friends for support can be a big help, too.