Are e-cigarettes harmful and how does it work?

This is an automatically translated article.

An e-cigarette is a battery-powered device in which the liquid is heated to form a vapor that the user inhales (usually contains nicotine, but not all do).

1. Mechanism of action of e-cigarettes

Some e-cigarettes look like traditional cigarettes, cigars or pipes, others look like pens, USB sticks, or have completely different designs. E-cigarettes come in disposable and “rechargeable” versions. Most of today's e-cigarette models use a tube containing a solution - a disposable type or can be filled with liquid for further use. This solution usually contains nicotine, flavoring agent, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin.
E-cigarette weight is based on the amount of nicotine in the solution, expressed in milligrams per milliliter or as a percentage. However, studies warn that labels do not always provide accurate information about nicotine content. Some disposable packs contain a concentrated form of nicotine, called nicotine salts.
We have the following example: A pack of 5% nicotine salts can have 30 to 50 milligrams of nicotine, equivalent to the amount of nicotine in 1-3 packs of regular cigarettes.

2. Are e-cigarettes safe?

In mid-2019, US health authorities announced more than 200 cases of lung injury related to e-cigarettes. These cases are raising alarm bells that e-cigarettes can cause lung damage. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against using e-cigarettes while the agency researches the exact cause of these lung conditions.

Also because e-cigarettes do not burn tobacco, most experts agree that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, but some e-cigarettes can contain dangerous ingredients as the main carcinogen, toxic chemical and psychostimulant of cannabis - Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
E-cigarettes containing nicotine have not been assessed as safe for adolescents, young adults or pregnant women. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also states that nicotine has adverse effects on brain development in children and young adults in their 20s, as well as being extremely toxic to developing fetuses. develop. Children and adults can also be poisoned if they swallow, inhale, or get e-cigarette liquid through their skin or eyes.
Even for adults and juveniles who do not smoke, using e-cigarettes also carries the risk of nicotine addiction, leading them to use e-cigarettes for a long time without stopping, with the long-term effects are difficult to predict, or are associated with traditional tobacco use. Research shows that the number of adolescent users is increasing, and with that comes an increased risk of future traditional tobacco use.
Some accidents involving e-cigarettes are also recorded, but not many. Defective e-cigarette batteries have caused fires and explosions, mostly while charging.

3. So do e-cigarettes help quit smoking?

Please note that e-cigarettes have not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration -FDA as a smoking cessation aid.

Studies examining whether e-cigarettes can help with smoking cessation have not produced consistent results. Limited research shows that using only nicotine-containing e-cigarettes for smoking cessation may be effective in the short term, compared with using nicotine replacement therapy with medication. However, there is still insufficient evidence to compare the safety and effectiveness of using e-cigarettes for smoking cessation and to develop evidence-based treatments. E-cigarettes may only be suitable for people who are reluctant to try validated smoking cessation therapies or who have tried but have not had success with them.
If you use e-cigarettes to quit smoking, please remember that the main goal is to completely stop using tobacco products. Similarly, especially should not use dual, ie using e-cigarettes containing nicotine and traditional cigarettes.
If you are looking for help to stop smoking, there are many FDA-approved medications that have been shown to be safe and effective. combination of medication use and consultation with a specialist.
Due to unresolved safety concerns and inconclusive research on e-cigarette smoking cessation aids, we do not recommend the use of e-cigarettes as a means of preventing smoking. quit smoking.

In short, e-cigarettes can explode and affect your health. Between 2009 and January 2016, there were 134 documented cases of batteries in e-cigarettes overheating, catching fire or exploding with serious injuries, according to FDA spokesman Michael Felberbaum. Therefore, limiting or preferably not using tobacco in any form is a factor in helping you lead a healthy life.

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Reference source: Mayoclinic.org