Smokers Report: E-Cigs Users feeling and being much healthier after switching

Millions of people across the globe smoke forms of cigarettes. Traditional tobacco cigarettes emit smoke which is inhaled through the mouth and nose of smokers. This impacts the lungs of these individuals which often lead to the development of health issues such as lung cancer, asthma, emphysema and respiratory problems.

Electronic cigarettes which are referred to as e-cigs are a new product that is a healthier smoking option for people. The way that an e-cig works is that it uses cartridges with nicotine in them to allow people to get vaporized nicotine. This eliminates the need for matches so that nothing is being burned. Burning of cigarettes is what hurts the lungs the most. The cigarettes have many harmful additives in them including arsenic, ammonia and formaldehyde. These additives are not in electronic cigarettes.

Second hand smoke can also be a concern for smokers especially those who are around children. E-cigs only produce a little bit of water vapor so this is probably not a concern.
A new study which was conducted on 1,000 smokers has found that using e-cigs actually allows smokers to become healthier. Many smokers suffer from smoker’s cough because of the constant exposure to smoke. 98% of people decided to use just e-cigs and 77% of people decide to only use electronic cigarettes and did not consider themselves smokers any more.

People who smoke often turn to electronic cigarettes as a better alternative. Smokers are addicted to nicotine not the smoke which means that switching to e-cigs does not make them feel the withdrawal effects the way that stopping cigarettes entirely does.

One issue that the study found was that people who smoke traditional cigarettes and e-cigs at the same time did not have the same health benefits as those who just used e-cigs alone. This could be due to the fact that smoke exposure was still continuing on a regular basis.

63.9 % of people reported that they saw an improvement in their smoker’s cough. 3.4% of people found that their smoker’s cough did not improve or became even worse than it was before. 70% of people senses that they had more lung capacity and 22% of these individuals had doctors validate this information.

In terms of overall energy, 66% of those who participated felt as though they had more energy and ability to exercise. This helps to reduce the likelihood of health issues especially in those smokers who are obese or overweight. Many smokers do not exercise because they cough and have issues with asthma. E-cigs have allowed people to regain some of the lung capacity that they have lost from years of tobacco use.

E-cigs are available online and allow people to choose the flavor of cartridge that they want. There are even nicotine free cartridges for those individuals who want to wean themselves off of it. The health benefits have allowed smokers the benefit of training their brains to adjust to electronic smoking rather than abuse their bodies with traditional cigarettes.

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Whats in for the E-Cigarette in 2013?

E-Cigarettes burst onto the scene a few years ago as an excellent variation to the much maligned, and often deadly traditional tobacco cigarette. In fact, since the third quarter of 2011, sales of e-cigarettes have risen 104% and they are expected to increase in value over the next few quarters as well. Why are e-cigarettes so popular? They are popular for a number of reasons, the first of which is the “cool factor” associated with them. For many years smoking a cigarette has been seen as a edgy, often hip way to express yourself. People were enticed to smoke cigarettes because they wanted to fit in and they wanted to give off a certain persona. This persona has taken a hit recently because of the numerous negative health benefits associated with smoking a traditional cigarette. E-cigarettes capture that same sense of hipster and edge yet reduce many of the harmful side effects of the traditional cigarette.

E-cigarettes do still contain nicotine, which is the same exact addictive drug that is found in a traditional cigarette. So in theory, a smoke of an e-cigarette can enjoy the same effect from the nicotine as they do from a traditional cigarette without the terrible smell, black tar in their lunchs, and hoarse smoke cough.

E-cigarettes are also extremely popular because of their cost. The price of traditional cigarettes has risen dramatically in recent years due in large part to the increased fines and taxes placed on them by the government. Cigarette manufacturers have been forced to increase their prices to afford the levies and taxes placed on their products. Also, many stores have stopped carrying cigarettes or at least have greatly reduced the amount of cigarettes that they keep in stock. It has become a supply and demand world for cigarettes which has generated a buzz over the re-emergence of an electronic alternative. Because the traditional cigarette is so expensive, people are able to save a significant amount of money by smoking the e-cigarette. The v2 cigs review for example has found that an electronic cigarette costs as much as 10 times less than a traditional cigarette over the course of its useful life. E-cigarettes are able to accomplish this due in large part to the fact that they are re-usable and can be replaced and refilled. They do not burn up as their traditional counterparts do and they can be refilled and reused virtually indefinitely.

Another factor that is fueling the surge of e-cigarettes into 2013 is the ban on traditional smoking by mayors of some of the most prominent cities in the world. New York City for example has placed a ban on smoking in public buildings within the city. This effectively cut out traditional cigarette sales in the city yet e-cigarettes saw a sharp rise in their sales because e-cigarettes are not technically banned, since they do not contain an actual flame or real smoke. This might seem like a convenient work around, and it may be, but the fact cannot be denied that this has significantly boosted sales of e-cigarettes. The marketing for e-cigs has labeled them as a much safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. The data for this has yet to be proven, but until a medical panel comes out to empirically prove that e-cigarettes are just as dangerous as the real thing, their popularity will continue to thrive and their stocks will continue to grow. This may be one of the best ways to invest your money in the near future as this market explodes on the back of government regulation and the rise of the hipsters.

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Whats so special about the e cigarette?

The first electronic cigarette was designed in 1963. Production of the first electronic cigarette was abandoned at the time as the required components were not freely available and costly. An improvement of the same was done by Hon Lik in 2003. The industry he worked in, now called Ruyan started exporting these devices even before they received the first international patent in early 2007.

The e-cigarette is electronic device which reproduces the exact functions of a real cigarette. An e-cigarette produces a mist which resembles a real cigarette. When inhaled by a smoker, it produces the sensation of real smoke and even tastes like nicotine, without the odor and health risks. Most e-cigarettes are portable and rechargeable, and resemble real cigarettes, even to being the same size. When inhaled, the tip even lights up as a real cigarette would, leaving the smoker with a feeling that he has actually smoked a real cigarette. The gadgets are re-useable, with replaceable filters. Some of the electronic devises are made to resemble cigars or pipes as well as cigarettes so as to accommodate all types of smokers.

The e-cigarette is composed of three sections:

The cartridge: is the mouthpiece as well as being the reservoir which holds the liquid which will be vaporized.

The Atomizer: is the section responsible for heating and vaporizing the liquid.

The Power Supply: is the rechargeable battery

Click here for an image of all three components.
These devices are intended for use by persons intending to stop smoking, or who wish to continue smoking without all the health risks associated to tobacco inhalation. It is most unfortunate that these devices are becoming popular with children and non smokers, probably due to the intense publicity and claims of safety.

The safety and benefits of the e-cigarette are not shared by all the health organizations as this device is relative new on the market. In May 2009, a report issued by the ‘Food and Drug Administration of Pharmaceutical Analysis’ tested the contents of 20 varieties of e-cigarette cartridges, produced by 2 different manufacturers. It was discovered that tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), which are responsible for triggering cancers, were found in most of the cartridges tested. It was also found that the nicotine levels mentioned on the packaging did not correspond with real nicotine levels, some of which were claiming to be nicotine free. A press release in July 2009 by the FDA was issued, discouraging users from reverting to the e-cigarette.

The American Association of Public Health Physicians has however, come out in favor of the e-cigarette, stating the smoker could reduce the risk of tobacco related diseases by 99.9% by converting to the e-cigarette, as well as greatly reducing the risk for passive smokers. It has asked the FDA to re-classify the product as a tobacco product instead of a drug/device combination.

In 2008, the World Health Organization issued a statement claiming that there have not been enough rigorous clinical studies conducted proving that the e-cigarette could be a safe alternative for nicotine replacement therapy. The World Health Organization is not prepared to back up or reject the product as a safe alternative to smoking until further in depth studies have been conducted.

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Where is It Still Iegal?

Since electric cigarettes were introduced, there have been a number of arguments raised by all the parties for and against them. The medics have had their concerns, and so have the smokers. And it is not just at the individual level, but at the organizational level as well. The FDA and the WHO have also had their reservations with the cigarettes in terms of them being solutions and/or alternatives to smoking. And the debates have had their own consequences, with some countries declaring them legal while others illegal.

Countries where the E-Cigarettes Are legal
Generally, the issue surrounding the legality of e-cigarettes is not that clear in many countries. Starting with Europe, there are countries which the cigarettes aren’t illegal yes, but the licensing laws block the sale of the same due to technicalities in the elements/compounds of the cigarettes. One such country is Denmark. The laws here generally categorize anything with nicotine as a medical product and so do the cigarettes. The cigarettes therefore need the relevant medical authorization for them to be sold.

Other countries with controversies surrounding the e-cigarettes in Europe include Finland, Latvia, Norway and The Netherlands. However, you will realize that there are some exceptions in such countries like in airports and personal use importation cases where the cigarettes are sold and used, but only to people above the age of majority.

However, the e-cigarettes are legal in most Europe countries. The restrictions mainly apply to the nicotine-containing e-cigarettes.

The cigarettes are legal in many states in the US, except for a few states where there have been debates about their legality, like California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington State. However, it is illegal to sell the cigarettes to minors.

In Australia, the e-cigarettes are also legal despite the classification of nicotine as poisonous. In the Victoria state, the laws do not restrict anyone on buying the e-cigarettes online for personal use. Other countries where the cigarettes are legal include China, South Korea and New Zealand.

Countries Where The E-Cigarettes are Banned
The most notable of these countries is Brazil. Here, neither the selling of advertising of the e-cigarettes is allowed. This ban is due to health concerns as assessed by the countries health agency, Anvisa which found the cigarettes “lacking enough information” to qualify them as healthy products.

The other country where the same case applies is Canada. The ban here is also due to “unsatisfactory information” from the manufacturers of these cigarettes concerning there their health risk.

Panama has totally banned the sale and importation of the cigarettes. The reason for doing so is based on the findings of FDA.

Singapore also doesn’t allow the distribution and importation these products. The reason for their illegality is that the motive behind the manufacture of the cigarettes was to attract more people (especially the young) into smoking.

Lebanon recently banned the cigarettes with effect from 21st September 2011.
As such, it is important to know where to carry the cigarettes is at all you are a visitor, otherwise you might be met by very punishments in some countries if you aren’t careful.

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Studies on the E Cigarette

Since the report issued by the Food and Drug Association (FDA) in 2009, claiming that the e-cigarette is not safe for use due to traces of the cancer producing TSNA’s being detected, as well as levels of nicotine not corresponding to what is stated on the labels, many famous Universities have undergone tests in this domain.

The Harvard University published a paper on the effects of tobacco craving reduction when using the e-cigarette. In this study it was concluded that the use of the electronic cigarette considerably reduced the craving for tobacco within the first 10 minutes, much quicker than a normal cigarette. Ten puffs on a specific brand of e-cigarette delivered a small amount of nicotine which was far less nicotine which would have delivered the same amount of puffs on a regular cigarette. It was concluded that the reduction in craving was not due to inhaling the nicotine in the placebo, but due to the ability of the brain to do this. Harvard University says that although more studies are needed in this field, there is already sufficient evidence to prove that these placebos are capable of drastically and indefinitely reducing tobacco cravings.

Researchers at the University of California came out strongly against the use of the e-cigarette. They are saying that these are harmful to the health and calling for these e-cigarettes to be banned. The opinion shared by all Universities who are against the use of the e-cigarette is that the toxicity levels of the chemical propylene glycol over an extended period of time are still unknown. There is also the threat that users will be substituting one addiction for another, just as harmful.

The Boston University also initiated a study after the release of the FDA report. This report is in favour of the e-cigarette even though they feel that further studies still need to be conducted. Dr Michael Siegal, a tobacco researcher and Professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health feels that any alternative to tobacco smoking needs to be investigated and developed. Dr Siegal says that the fact that this device is helping thousands of smokers quit without the risk of inhalation of second hand smoke by innocent persons, needs to be encouraged. “In some ways, this is the product we’ve been looking for all these years” he says. Dr Siegal hit out hard against the Anti Smoking groups, accusing them of having trouble coping with anything that looks like a cigarette. He also believes that if the e-cigarette can be fine tuned, the pharmaceutical companies will lose business to the companies who manufacture these placebo cigarettes. In his opinion, the e-cigarette is much safer than normal cigarettes, with lower levels of harmful toxins with carcinogens levels being 1000 times lower than in regular cigarettes.

Another famous university who is for the e-cigarette is the Minnesota University. They are however also asking that these devices be further developed and harmful levels of chemicals be analyzed and reduced. Labelling should be more detailed and instructions clearer with health hazards clearly printed.

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