Are you also one of those people who have tried to quit smoking but has not been successful?  Even after trying several methods, stopping smoking entirely is never that easy. As per a survey, on average it takes at least 30 attempts to fully stop smoking using traditional methods. So, is there a way out to keep away from the harmful effects of smoking?  E-Cigarettes could be a potential savior that we are looking for.

What are E-Cigarettes?

E-cigarettes or Electronic cigarettes also known as Vapes are typically in the form of handheld devices that generally contains nicotine and flavorings in liquid form which is heated up in the system. The nicotine is then released in vapor form which is then inhaled by the user instead of the typical smoke from conventional cigarettes. Since there is no burning of tobacco involved, the users are not exposed to chemicals which that could cause several ill-effects usually seen in people smoking regular cigarettes.

Types of E-Cigarettes

Different types of E-Cigarettes are available in the market. These include:
Cigalikes– These typically look like regular cigarettes or cigars and are available as disposable & rechargeable variants
Vape Pod Kits- These are rechargeable compact devices in the shapes of a USB stick or pebble containing e-liquid capsules.
Vape pens- These are pen or tube-shaped devices with a tank containing the e-liquid and rechargeable batteries. These vapes are disposible
Squonk Mods– Usually the largest e-cigarette device and comes in different shapes and sizes. They have a refillable tank that holds the e-liquid and a rechargeable battery.

Nic Sticks -These are relatively new and easy to use compact devices. These are sleek in design, unlike other clumsy devices. They are disposable and come in a variety of flavors. They are also the cheapest options among the others.

Why do people want to stop smoking?

Quitting smoking can lead to an increase in life expectancy. It diminishes several risks such as cardiovascular diseases, reproductive complications, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and several variants of cancer. It significantly reduces the financial burden on the family and society and healthcare systems at large.

Can e-cigarettes help in stopping Smoking?

There are a lot of people, especially in the US and UK who have successfully quit smoking after the use of e-cigarettes. Hence e-cigarettes are growingly being considered as an effective method of smoking cessation.

As per a study conducted by National Addiction Centre, Kings College, London, the daily use of e-cigarettes helps significantly in stopping smoking compared to no help at all. They also found that daily usage of e-cigarettes also proved to be much more effective for stopping smoking than other evidence-based methods such as nicotine replacement therapy, any medications such as bupropion or varenicline, or a combination of these methods.

In another study, it was claimed that using nicotine-based e-cigarettes leads to a greater chance of smoking cessation compared to e-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine. Another research advocates that regular use of e-cigarettes resulted in greater smoking cessation than less frequent use.

These studies clearly establish that regular use of nicotine-based e-cigarettes could drastically improve the chances of quitting smoking.

Are e-cigarettes safe?

The usage of e-cigarettes is highly regulated for quality and safety aspects in countries wherever they are available.

E-cigarettes pose only a minute risk compared to regular cigarettes. In addition, e cigarette prices are comparable with normal cigarette prices.. The smoke from tobacco of regular cigarettes produces carbon monoxide and tar which poses a significantly high risk to human health. These harmful elements are absent in E-Cigarettes.

The Nicotine used in e-cigarettes, though addictive is less harmful than tobacco.

They are a safer option during pregnancy, both for the baby and the mother than regular smoking.

Vaping does not cause harm to other persons nearby which is not the case with regular cigarettes as passive smoking is also considered to be harmful.