The question of the harmfulness of e-cigarettes compared to traditional cigarettes remains relevant. Each of them has its own characteristics and health consequences.
Electronic cigarettes first appeared in 2003. They immediately won the popularity of smokers because the manufacturers claimed the harmlessness of the devices and the ability to get rid of nicotine addiction.
But over time, researchers began to notice that electronic cigarettes are not so safe. And the question of what is more harmful – electronic or regular cigarettes – remains open. Of course, it’s so convenient to play your favourite slot online or live andar bahar, sipping the steam of an electronic cigarette without the distraction of a smoke break. But is it worth it? Today let’s understand the main differences between these two smoking products and find out which is safer.
How Disposable and POD Systems Work
Disposable e-cigarettes and POD systems consist of several parts:
- A cartridge filled with liquid;
- battery pack;
- Cartomizer or vaporizer with a unique coil to heat the liquid;
- a chip and a sensor that indicates the draw.
Electronic cigarettes are not a product of combustion. The principle of operation is to heat the internal coil, heat the flavouring liquid on the salt nicotine and convert it into vapour.
During the POD system, the sensor receives information about the puff. It sends a signal to the vaporizer, and the latter heats the liquid and converts it into vapour, which enters the respiratory tract of the vaper.
What is the difference between a cigarette and an e-cigarette?
The main difference between a cigarette and a disposable cigarette lies in the principle of operation. In traditional tobacco products, the smoker uses a combustion product to quench his nicotine cravings – he lights the crushed tobacco leaves and inhales the smoke. It does not happen in an electronic cigarette: The device heats the liquid, and the vaper inhales the vapour.
But there are other distinctive features:
- The amount of nicotine: liquids on salt nicotine have different strengths (from 20 mg/ml and higher); in classic cigarettes, this figure is standard – about 15-20 mg of nicotine;
- Ease of use: electronic cigarettes allow you to smoke even in a closed room, the smell will quickly evaporate, and tobacco products should preferably be smoked only in an open space.
- The harm of tobacco smoke: the vapour from electronic cigarettes is safe for others. In contrast, the smoke from regular cigarettes harms the body of the smoker and nearby people.
- Economy: smokers spend less money on POD systems and supplies than ordinary tobacco products.
But there is one similarity – both classic and electronic cigarettes are smoking products. They serve to quench nicotine cravings.
Why is tobacco smoke hazardous?
The tobacco smoke that a smoker inhales affects him and those around him. Secondhand smoke is equated with regular cigarettes, and it is also stated that it can be much more harmful and dangerous to the human body.
The main effects of the harmful effects of tobacco smoke include:
- nervousness and depression;
- coughing fits;
- irritation of the respiratory system, mucosa of the nose, eyes and throat;
- allergic reactions;
- attacks of suffocation;
- visual impairment, tearfulness;
- development of diseases typical of smokers (cardiovascular, reproductive and respiratory system diseases, lung cancer, early mortality).
During the inhalation of tobacco smoke, a person receives five times more tar, carbon monoxide, nicotine and 50 times more ammonia, carcinogens than a smoker.
Is there a danger in smoking electronic cigarettes?
Undoubtedly, electronic cigarettes are also not harmless. But the risks, compared to smoking regular tobacco products, are much less. Among them stand out only the emergence of psychological and physical dependence on nicotine.
- Otherwise, disposable cigarettes are superior to regular cigarettes because
- are not harmful to others;
- Do not emit a pungent odour, and therefore clothes and fingers do not smell of tobacco;
- Minimize the risk of fire, as in the case of an unextinguished cigarette;
- do not damage teeth (when smoking classic tobacco products, the enamel acquires a yellow tint);
- Do not contain carcinogens and dyes;
- Some e-cigarettes contain little or no nicotine (about 20 mg/ml). Therefore, a vaper can use e-cigs to reduce the effects of tobacco on the body and get rid of nicotine addiction.
WHO states that vape systems have not been researched enough, so it is impossible to say they are safe.
An electronic cigarette is a smoking product in every way. E-cigarettes work by vaporizing liquid rather than burning tobacco like conventional cigarettes. In most cases, the vaping liquid contains nicotine and other substances.
The most significant harm of e-cigarettes is that they contain nicotine, just like regular cigarettes. Nicotine is an addictive substance at any age. Still, its use by young people has much more severe consequences because the brain is most susceptible in adolescence. Therefore, nicotine can cause addiction, attention deficit and mood disorders (such as depression). In addition to the brain, nicotine also affects other processes in the body, such as blood pressure and heart rate. These effects can become long-lasting. E-cigarettes contain other harmful substances besides nicotine, including substances that are bad for the respiratory system and implications considered carcinogenic, capable of causing cancer.
It has been proven that the risk for young people who use e-cigarettes to switch to smoking cigarettes increases by up to 7 times. Nicotine addiction can also be a prerequisite for future drug use.
Can e-cigarettes help people quit smoking?
Most evidence has shown that people who try to stop using cigarettes through e-cigarettes substitute one addiction for another because they do not stop using nicotine. Therefore, quitting nicotine with nicotine substitutes registered as smoking cessation medications gives a grander scale of nicotine addiction cessation.
Disclaimer:
The content provided in this article is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not meant to promote or endorse the use of e-cigarettes. The use of e-cigarettes is a personal decision and can carry health risks including addiction and other medical complications. Always consult with a healthcare provider for advice on e-cigarette use and potential health effects. The author and the publisher of this article disclaim responsibility for any damage, harm, or health issues that may arise from the use or misuse of information or products mentioned in this article.