E-cigarettes: A tool to quit smoking?

E-cigarettes: A tool to quit smoking?

 

There are many studies indicating that vaping is a method to help cigarette smokers quit. Is it really harmless to health? Information from NASEM (National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, USA) reported that 80% of e-cigarette users who try to quit smoking switch to becoming addicted to e-cigarettes instead. E-cigarettes cannot help stop nicotine addiction but only replace nicotine intake through e-cigarettes.

 

Especially among children and youth, there is a large number of e-cigarette users. Many have not smoked traditional cigarettes before, but e-cigarettes are like a fashion trend. Their portability makes them popular among teenagers, and there are no laws controlling sales to children and youth, which leads to a large number of new smokers.

 

“Dr. Chontat Traithong, Respiratory and Critical Care Physician, Phyathai 2 Hospital” stated that he disagrees with advertising claims that e-cigarettes can help quit traditional cigarettes or be used as substitutes. No research has found that e-cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes. Studies involving patients who tried e-cigarettes to quit traditional cigarettes showed that patients could not quit and used both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes simultaneously. In conclusion, “E-cigarettes cannot help quit traditional cigarettes, so this is a misconception.”

 

Do e-cigarettes contain no nicotine or less nicotine than traditional cigarettes?

The conclusion is that e-cigarettes contain nicotine and tend to be used more than traditional cigarettes. Therefore, overall, users receive higher nicotine levels than from regular cigarettes.

 

Research data shows that 1 milliliter of e-cigarette liquid contains up to 40 milligrams of nicotine, equivalent to 1-2 packs of traditional cigarettes. Studies also found that patients who quit traditional cigarettes and switched to e-cigarettes, which are easier to use, increased their daily frequency of use.

 

How do e-cigarettes severely affect the respiratory system?

Besides nicotine, e-cigarettes contain compounds in vapor form that are flammable, directly affecting the respiratory system. Initially, this may cause nasal irritation, nasal congestion, and throat irritation. Some users may experience these symptoms even after the first use, leading to prolonged coughing.

 

Regarding direct lung impact, e-cigarettes impair the function of cells in the bronchi and alveoli responsible for trapping pathogens before they reach the lungs, resulting in increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. This may cause severe pneumonia immediately, respiratory distress, or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring mechanical ventilation and urgent ICU treatment. Even with timely treatment, lung function may never fully recover.

 

Although long-term harmful effects of e-cigarettes are not yet fully identified due to their recent popularity, unlike traditional cigarettes which clearly cause lung cancer, animal studies abroad have shown that long-term e-cigarette use can lead to lung and stomach cancers.

 

What dangers do e-cigarettes pose to children and youth?

E-cigarettes contain high levels of nicotine, and in children who are still developing, brain development is not yet complete. Starting to smoke at a young age reduces brain development. Both traditional and e-cigarettes directly affect children’s brains. The vapor compounds also harm the respiratory system and may cause chronic allergic diseases in the future.

 

Which patient groups are at risk from e-cigarettes?

In fact, e-cigarettes pose health risks to all groups. However, the highest risk group includes those with chronic respiratory diseases such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These diseases already involve damage to respiratory cells, and e-cigarette use worsens symptoms. For patients with allergies, smoking can trigger allergic flare-ups.

 

Effective smoking cessation

The best way to quit smoking is a strong determination to stop. Finding activities to distract oneself helps prevent relapse. Social and environmental factors where smoking occurs make quitting more difficult. For heavy smokers, consulting a doctor and receiving treatment with smoking cessation medications is recommended, as initial quitting may cause irritability and restlessness.

 

 

source : PHAYATHAI 2 Hospital