E-Cigarettes May Not Be as Safe as You Think

Since the introduction of electronic cigarettes as an alternative to smoking real cigarettes, they can be seen everywhere. Actress Katherine Heigl even smoked one with David Letterman on television. But are they really healthier than tobacco cigarettes and will they help you stop smoking?

One of the problems in studying the effects of e-cigs is that they have only been available for short time. Adults, teens, and tweens are all adopting the e-cig. Maybe you’ve seen a new Vape Shop or two – Vape stands for vapor, what is exhaled during “smoking” an e-cig. The popularity is really growing.

Each e-cig contains a battery, heating source, and cartridge. The cartridge holds nicotine and flavors. Some e-cigs are disposable when the battery runs out and some come with chargers and refill cartridges. So, is “vaping” safe?

There is still nicotine involved, which means there will still be an addiction. As for safety, they might be safer than a regular cigarette because tobacco smoke is the main concern and vaping doesn’t produce smoke. Testing has shown that the levels of chemicals are different than regular cigarettes, so they may be less harmful. The big question is whether they will prove to be less harmful over time. There may be long term risks and secondhand smoke risks. We just cannot determine this until time has passed and use is studied in relation to illness.

Doctors are still in disagreement over whether e-cigarettes are a good idea or not. Those against the use, state the ongoing use of nicotine which leads to addiction. If parents perceive vaping as safe, they may not try to prevent their kids from picking them up. Manufacturers could also target a younger audience… especially when they see celebrities using e-cigs. And those manufacturers are already gearing up for the kids by offering candy flavored cartridges.

Those in favor of the vaping option feel it is safer than regular cigarettes, so go for it. Smokers would be healthier if they quit completely, but if they won’t, at least they will be exposed to less nicotine. It is not known if vaping could be used to assist in a stop-smoking program like Nicorette gum. There has been no research regarding this, so beware of false claims.

Still not sure what to do? If you don’t smoke, don’t vape. There’s no benefit to it and a plethora of unknown risks. If you are trying to quit smoking, there is no research supporting vaping as an aid. Use an approved method to quit until the research is available. If you smoke, switching to vaping might be healthier. It isn’t known, but it’s worth a discussion with your doctor.

The FDA has not approved e-cigarettes. It will likely impose an age restriction and other regulations governing the use (indoor or outdoor only), sale, and contents of e-cigarettes.

Your absolute best choice is to stop smoking. You’ll not only be healthier, you’ll feel healthier. Your breath will smell better and your teeth won’t yellow. You will definitely be more attractive. Healthy and good-looking are pretty good incentives, aren’t they?