In recent headlines, the federal government announced that it had raised the age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 years old in hopes of cracking down on the rise of underage e-cigarette use. Still, there is a risk for the younger generation as E-cigarettes become more and more popular in and outside the schoolyard.
With that said, even older folks are switching to e-cigarettes (e-pens, vaping, JUULs, etc.) as many believe it is a healthier alternative to the traditional cigarette.
Here’s everything you need to know about e-cigarettes and the risks that come along with the new trend.
1. What exactly is an e-cigarette?
E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that allow users to inhale an aerosol containing nicotine or other substances. They come in the form of e-pens, e-pipes, e-hookah and/or e-cigars. Each device has a cartridge, which comes in over 15,500 different flavors and/or colors.
The main component of e-cigarettes is the liquid contained in cartridges or tanks. The liquid is created by nicotine being extracted from tobacco and mixed with a base – usually propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is also found in antifreeze. It has not been approved by the government for inhalation.
2. What are the health risks associated with e-cigarettes?
Studies have found that even in small doses, inhaling the two primary ingredients found in e-cigarettes—propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin—is likely to expose users to a high level of toxins. The more ingredients a user is inhaling, the greater the toxicity. The inhalation of these harmful chemicals can cause irreversible lung damage and lung diseases. It can also increase your risk of developing heart disease.
And just like regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes also pose a threat to non-smokers. In 2016, the Surgeon General concluded that secondhand vapor contains, “nicotine; ultrafine particles; flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease”. Vapors have also been shown to contain “volatile organic compounds such as benzene, which is found in car exhaust; and heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.”
3. Are e-cigarettes safer than traditional cigarettes?
Neither option should be considered safe or good for your overall health. However, the chemicals used to create vaping liquid can vary and have been shown to contain carcinogens just like traditional cigarettes. The short-and long-term health impacts of inhaling them are largely unknown.
4. Are e-cigarettes a tool to get traditional smokers to stop smoking?
Not at all. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has not found any e-cigarette to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit. We recommend speaking with your health care provider about quitting smoking. They may have other methods to assist you in quitting.
5. What are the statistics associated with teens and e-cigarettes?
It’s estimated that 20 percent (5 million) of all youth use e-cigarettes, a 135 percent increase in just two years.
- Adolescents who vaped were 4 times more likely to report cigarette smoking
- 80% of adult smokers started before age 18
As you can tell, there are many factors and risks linked to e-cigarettes, just like traditional tobacco cigarettes. If you’re thinking of quitting nicotine altogether, give St. George Medical Clinic a call at 304-478-3339, we can help.