#StopNow: E-Cigarettes Are Not A Safe And Sensible Alternative

By
Loveleen Kaur
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Electronic Cigarette
Smoking Can Kill #StopNow Image used for representation only

Quitting smoking is no simple task. Ask any smoker and this is the stock answer that will come your way…

In what was apparently a move to help reduce the risks of smoking, the Electronic Cigarettes/ Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and Nicotine Vapourisers were gradually introduced into the marketplace.

For the uninitiated, these vaping instruments are expensive, equally dangerous and addictive.

They are believed to be safer than smoking regular cigarettes despite most being loaded with their own risks. The vapour from some of these devices have been shown to contain ultra-fine particles and carcinogens.

Research by the University of Birmingham published online in the journal Thorax, suggested that vaping blocks alveolar macrophages from working (part of the lungs that get rid of dust, bacteria and other allergens).

Scientist have also claimed that smoking e-cigarettes damages the immune system and boosts inflammation. Twenty-four hours of vaping can lead to cell death and increase the number of free radicals being produced by 50 times, they warned.

While e-cigarettes are safer in terms of cancer risk, there may be a greater risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after vaping for a number of years, said lead study author, Professor David Thickett.

“Vaping is increasing in popularity, but most of the current body of research has focused on the chemical composition of e-cigarette liquid before it is vaped. Tobacco use is an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular diseases,” said reports.

Taking cognizance of the increasing tobacco led deaths and diseases in the country, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, issued new images for the pictorial warning on tobacco products with validity extending up to the next two years from September 1.

The products manufactured, imported or packaged on or after the said date will have to display these images. All tobacco products packs will also have a quit Line number (1800-11-2356), the Health Ministry notified.

“Earlier, there were some guidelines that suggested that e-cigarettes should be promoted to get patients de-addicted to smoking but even with these e-cigarettes, the patients aren’t able to give up smoking quickly,” says Dr Mahavir Modi, Pulmonologist at Ruby Hall Clinic.

“But currently none of the guidelines for quitting smoking recommends electronic cigarettes and they are also banned in most parts of Western Europe and United States. In India it was never a part of these programs and we do not prescribe or suggest this to any of our patients.”

Sharing his expertise on how to wean a patient from addiction, he says, “We basically want to break their mental barrier which does not happen when a person starts having e-cigarettes.

They still have the sensation of holding it in their fingers and smoking through their lips, which is why it is difficult through e-cigarettes to break the patient’s mental block of not having a cigarette. Moreover, they can further be addictive and the nicotine content in them is also questionable. Although experts aren’t certain on what effects nicotine has on one’s health, it is advised that people search for a tobacco-free alternative product that doesn’t require them to smoke, like nicotine pouches for example.

“Nicotine chewing gums and other alternatives are also not used properly by people. Ideally, whenever someone feels the urge to smoke, they should have the gum and slowly they should start cutting it by doses.

All the receptors that nicotine stimulates are blocked with these gums that have small doses of nicotine. Later, the tobacco cigarettes won’t give as much pleasure to the person and then one can slowly give up the addiction.

They can also use it along with other drugs as prescribed by experts combined with therapies and counselling,” adds Dr Modi.

“I started smoking e-cigarette as it was one-time investment and didn’t require me to go out each time to buy a new cigarette,” says Sanjeev Lal, an investment banker. “And this was a one-time buy and could be used for a long period of time. Moreover, I wanted to quit smoking cigarettes.

It was only after prolonged use of e-cigarettes when I felt difficulty in breathing and quit. I would be tired after walking 500 meters and was always restless and couldn’t play any sport.

“I realised it was doing more bad than good and that’s when I stopped using it,” adds Lal.

“It felt like slow poison to me,” said a city based entreprenur, Mehak Ganguly. “We most often indulge in smoking with peer pressure and the urge to be at par with society. Eventually I became a chain smoker and then I switched to e-cigarettes.

“At first, it seemed quite useless, but I didn’t felt the urge to smoke tobacco anymore though I wasn’t out of the habit of smoking.

The electronic instrument was killing me with its liquid, but very slowly. I happened to puke blood twice while I was on it. It was only psychological help and family support that came to my rescue,” Mehak adds.

“The younger crowd aged 19 to 32 who were addicted to smoking tobacco are now the customers who buy electronic cigarettes,” says a shopkeeper at Hadapsar.

“The e-cigarettes seem to be the choices of people who tried other cigarettes but cannot cope up with it and hence they turn to these types of alternatives to smoke. They are convenient and portable and release a lot of smoke without giving out much smell. Actually, they could be equally as harmful. Nonetheless, we live in a society that is driven by liberty and freedom of choice. So if people choose to use vaporizers, like the ones found at MagicVaporizers, then they should be allowed to without judgement. Plus, there are many online businesses that stock wholesale vape supplies, as seen at https://ojivape.com/best-vape-pens-oil-cartridges/ and you can see how popular this trend is due to the fact that businesses like this can operate. Smoking is sociable, which is why I believe that so many people still buy into it!

“It is also popular among younger women. The cigarettes last longer than the usual ones though they are expensive. When they were launched, their demand was very high but now, I sell only 3-4 e-cigarettes a week,” he adds.

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#All views are those of the respondents and Pune365 does not necessarily subscribe to them. Some names changed on request.

#Pune365 does not advocate the use of e-cigarettes and tobacco.

##Smoking Can Kill ! #StopNow !

Loveleen Kaur
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