It is no secret that tobacco is one of the most serious causes of deaths and diseases, such as lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. It is estimated that smoking kills about 480,000 people annually in the USA. Due to the adverse effects of tobacco, people are on the lookout for alternatives. E-cigarettes are one of the healthier substitutes of cigarettes.
Here are some scientific facts about vaping that e-cigarette users should know to affirm the appropriateness of e-cigarettes in the efforts to minimize harmful effects from smoking tobacco.
#1. E-cigarettes are 95% safer than cigarettes
According to a study published in August 2015 by Public Health England, e-cigarettes are 95% safer as smoking alternatives. The authors of the published research, while responding to a concern raised by scientists about the high percentage of safety, clarified that they gave the allowance of 5% as a cautious estimate to provide for uncertainty.
#2. Electronic cigarettes can act as smoking cessation aids
The Cochrane 2016 review, which was more technical than the previous scientific reviews, gave more concrete support that e-cigarettes containing nicotine can help smokers quit smoking. Other studies have also corroborated their effectiveness as a smoking cessation aid.
#3. Vaping is not a gateway to smoking, as is sometimes alleged
The allegation that vaping is a gateway to smoking or that vaping among non-smokers will later cause smoking is not true, but is instead a political statement to fight vaping that is hard to prove. Nevertheless, if there was a gateway effect, since e-cigs help to quit smoking, there would be a positive global effect. Also, the gateway effect would have to be powerful to counter the cessation effect.
#4. Aldehydes in e-liquids
That e-liquids contain aldehyde is a significant concern for many vapers. Aldehydes are produced during the vaporization and are dependent on the vaporization process, the voltage, the length of the ignition phase, and the number of coils. Researchers found that dry puffs were the cause of the harmful high levels of aldehyde emission. However, dry puffs—which involve heating the coil when the wick is not sufficiently wet—are unusual occurrences that normally do not happen when vaping, or are things that vapers can detect and avoid.
#5. Presence of diacetyl in e-liquid
Unlike the case of aldehydes, diacetyl is a different case altogether, as it belongs to a chemical family called di-ketones. Also, it does not originate from a reaction when heating e-liquid, but is generally a result of the flavorings added to the e-liquids. Experts describe diacetyl as an avoidable component of e-liquids, and it is among those substances published by AFNOR as unwanted products. Diacetyl is associated with a disease called “popcorn lung,” but the condition has not been observed among vapers. Only a few cases have been seen and are attributable to diacetyl in foods. As such, diacetyl does not pose any threat to vapers, more so in Europe, where the requirements published by AFNOR are applied to even e-liquids.
#6. Vaping has some health benefits
Despite the presentation of vaping as a somehow dangerous habit to vapers, Professor Riccardo Polosa took a different approach and decided to shed light on the benefits of vaping according to some scientific publications. The ECLAT study points out some advantages of vaping in that it has a positive impact on weight control, blood pressure, heart rate, and the working of the lungs. Moreover, two other studies showed vaping as a useful alternative for surgery patients and those with lung cancer. All these observations show overall higher benefits from e-cigarettes compared to combustible cigarettes for those who choose to go the e-cigs way. However, the various benefits can only be experienced by those who only vape, but even cutting down on smoking is a benefit worth applauding. As such, it would be a superb idea to enjoy your e-cigs, and ensure you get the best in the market by buying from ePuffer.
#7. Few accidents are associated with e-cigarettes and are preventable
Unlike smoking, which is linked to many avoidable deaths, vaping has not been blamed as the direct cause of any single death. However, there are some deaths indirectly linked to vaping, like those that arise from the ingestion of e-liquids in domestic settings, which of course could be averted by rigorous measures. Furthermore, containers that are compliant to children’s safety are used for nicotine and non-nicotine e-liquids in the US and Europe, thus dramatically reducing the chances of ingestion. The explosion of batteries is another risk, but it is preventable to a large extent and does not have much to do with the vaping sector.
#8. No combustion takes place
With e-cigs, the issue of misplacing your lighter or matches is not a bother, as nothing burns. E-cigs are powered by lithium batteries, which vaporize the liquid when you puff on your e-cig. Although some e-cigs have tips that glow red or another color, some of them do not resemble regular cigarettes. Without any burning of tobacco, there is no emission of carbon monoxide, smoke, or an unpleasant smell, and what users inhale is the vapor.
#9. E-cigarettes are tobacco-free but may contain nicotine
Although e-cigs do not have tobacco and do not emit smoke, they may contain nicotine in liquid form. Nicotine is one of the constituents of e-liquid in addition to propylene glycol (solvent), flavorings, and other additives. The nicotine content in the e-liquid varies, with some having higher levels, like regular cigarettes, and different lower levels, like light and ultra-light cigarettes. Also, some e-liquids are nicotine-free and are only flavored to satisfy those who want the smoking sensation without consuming nicotine.
#10. Flavorings in e-liquids
Flavors are what give the e-liquids their various tastes. There are hundreds of them. Although flavors are deemed harmful, the UK and Europe have established some measures to guarantee the safety of e-liquids. According to a study in Connecticut, flavored e-liquids were confirmed to contribute to switching from cigarettes. A survey by the Vaping Post in conjunction with Ashtray Blog meant to address that the feeling of “throat hit”—a condition characteristic of smoking—was decreased among e-cig users with a rising interest in flavors. Thus, the flavor is a crucial aspect of vaping.
