Electronic cigarettes are a fashionable trend on the path to a healthy lifestyle. Many smokers are switching to this electronic device, which supposedly does not harm health. But is it really?
Electronic cigarettes: what is it, what is their composition?
The first electronic cigarettes were released over 10 years ago in Hong Kong. First, marketers positioned them as a smoking device in public places, then as one of the effective ways to say goodbye to smoking forever. To date, they are considered the least harmful way of smoking and are actively used by people who want to get rid of this addiction.
The device completely simulates the process of smoking. Usually in the package, in addition to the device itself, you can find a cartridge and a charger. The device contains a tiny steam generator, and its mechanism starts the work as soon as you have done a puff.
Of course, steam in this ingenious device contains a dose of nicotine. The device is equipped with LEDs, which allows you to bring its appearance as close as possible to a regular cigarette, when you smoke it, you can observe tobacco smoldering.
Taste, as well as strength depend on the installed filter. Filters are easy to disconnect from the case. One filter usually replaces 15-50 regular cigarettes.
What is more harmful - an electronic cigarette or a regular one?
The vapor of the electronic device contains almost no harmful substances. For example, it will never cause cancer, because it does not contain carcinogens. The smoke of a regular cigarette contains more than four thousand substances unsafe for health, including those that cause cancer.
You should not, however, believe that the device is absolutely harmless, because it still contains nicotine - the cause of many diseases. Nicotine is a direct threat to your health.
Of course, for a smoker with experience, this device bears solid advantages. A heavy smoker will be happy with the following positive points of using an electronic cigarette:
- There will be no tobacco smell and smoke;
- There will be no yellow teeth;
- Breathlessness will disappear;
- Tastes will come back.
Expert opinion: which cigarette is more harmful
Unfortunately, the opinion that electronic cigarettes are not as harmful as regular ones may be wrong. So, German experts believe that the device has an extremely destructive effect on human health. Why, in their opinion, the electronic cigarette can be more harmful than usual?
At the heart of the device is an evaporator, which includes propylene glycol. Propylene glycol causes systemic irritation of the respiratory tract. It was also found that the vapor of the device can block the airways, thereby causing a person to experience breathing problems.
Moreover, in 2009, American experts discovered carcinogens and other potentially hazardous substances in cartridges, the contents of which were silent on manufacturers.
Studies show that the nicotine content in the device often exceeds the amount declared by the manufacturer, which casts doubt on the integrity of their manufacturers.
Buyers must be sure that they receive a product with guaranteed characteristics.
Which cigarettes are harmful to others - electronic or regular?
The most active position in the fight against smoking was taken by passive smokers - people who suffer from the tobacco smoke that surrounds them. And for good reason! After all, the most harmful and unsafe substances are contained in the smoke exhaled by the smoker.
All hazardous substances in the smoke from a conventional cigarette are products of combustion and it is logical to assume that since there is no combustion in an electronic device, it is completely safe for others. However, this is not quite true.
First, instead of smoke there is steam, and it, as we know, also contains harmful substances. For example, the same nicotine, or propylene glycol. The harm of nicotine and propylene glycol is proven scientifically and does not require confirmation.
Moreover, manufacturers often hold back the true composition of their product and in fact we get steam saturated with other harmful impurities.
Secondly, steam can form a dependency in passive smokers. Indeed, unlike the usual cigarette smoke in a pair contains an increased dose of nicotine. Getting a similar dose, a passive smoker has a greater likelihood of falling into nicotine addiction.
Pregnancy and electronic cigarettes
And now let's find out if e-cigarettes are more harmful for pregnant women than regular ones. We can immediately say that they are in no way inferior to the ordinary ones in harm to pregnant girls.
When using the device during pregnancy, nicotine accumulates in the fetal tissues, which can lead to damage to the organs of the future baby even at an early stage of pregnancy.
Mothers will also be uncomfortable with the use of electronic cigarettes, since her already non-ideal state is complicated by dizziness, nausea, weakness, and more toxicosis.
When using an electronic device during pregnancy, the following may occur:
- Miscarriage;
- Early childbirth or spontaneous abortion may occur;
- The fetus may develop oxygen deficiency.
Yes, it is possible that smoking electronic cigarettes during pregnancy is less harmful than normal ones, however, the expectant mother is very much at risk of increasing the percentage of harmful substances in the body of the fetus to an unacceptable amount, which can lead to undesirable consequences.
What's better?
The electronic cigarette has been patented to help people quit smoking and, naturally, it is less harmful than a regular cigarette. The device is beneficial for the following reasons:
- It is less harmful to health. Compared with ordinary tobacco, liquid filler is less harmful, because it does not contain tar, metals and carcinogens.
- It does not harm not only their users, but also the environment. It also does not harm people in the vicinity of a person who smokes.
- Electronic device saves you money. It is bought only once, then you will incur costs only for liquid for refilling or for replaceable cartridges. This is especially beneficial for people who are used to smoking more than 1 pack per day.
- These cigarettes are beneficial to people who can not quit because they can not completely abandon the special ritual of smoking. Smokers can choose non-nicotine options and thus not quit smoking without compromising health.
Let's sum up
An electronic device is a great alternative to regular smoking, especially for heavy smokers. Smokers with experience will appreciate the ease of use of the device, save money, as well as be able to avoid causing great damage to their health.
However, the device can cause harm to the body, as well as enter into an addiction.
The harm from it is less than from normal, but it should not be smoked for pregnant women, as well as for people who have not reached the age of majority. Moreover, the use of electronic devices is contraindicated for those who have serious health problems.
An electronic cigarette can harm not only you, but also the people around you, so try to avoid smoking in public places.
From the following video you can find out whether electronic cigarettes are harmful to health.
