In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of e-cigarettes. More and more smokers, especially at a young age, choose this alternative, considering it a less harmful solution than traditional smoking.
What is true about e-cigarettes that are heavily advertised, especially among young people? Is it really less harmful to the smoker’s health? Mr. Petros G. Kalogeropoulos, Director Cardiologist Metropolitan Hospital:
E-cigarettes are safe
The first data of clinical studies showed that e-cigarettes are less harmful than classic ones. It contains less toxic ingredients and is not necessarily safe. And, of course, there is no information about the degree of damage caused by it, because the period of observation and analysis to detect damage to the body is limited.
However, by the end of 2023, recent data from extensive studies of real user populations have shown that e-cigarettes are just as harmful as traditional cigarettesIt appears to be less harmful in cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic dysfunction such as asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and oral disease. Therefore, the rationale that e-cigarettes are less harmful should be reconsidered based on more recent data.
- E-cigarettes help to quit smoking
No scientific body in the US or Europe recommends using e-cigarettes to quit smoking. - There are studies that show that long-term use of e-cigarettes helps to quit traditional cigarettes
However, the price creates duplicate users on the one hand and continuous addiction on the other. In other words, the smoker continues to take nicotine in a different form so that the addiction remains. - Electronic cigarettes are not addictive
It seems that after 3 years of occasional e-cigarette use, a strong addiction develops and the user becomes a daily user. Strong craving for nicotine within 5 minutes of waking, indirect evidence of serious addiction. - The use of classic cigarettes in the group of young teenagers has decreased and electronic cigarettes in various designs and flavors have increased, so the interest of young people in searching for new ways of nicotine addiction has not decreased.
Indeed, the evidence we have obtained so far shows that teenagers prefer classic and especially menthol, chocolate, clove, rose, coconut, etc. they use more electronic cigarettes enriched with aromatic substances such as - Smoking and dual users
Concomitant use of traditional and e-cigarettes has been documented to cause the greatest harm. Dual users are the category with the highest burden of smokers.
In conclusion, Mr. Kalogeropoulos notes that:E-cigarettes are not a safe alternative for smokers. They have fewer and different toxic substances than classic cigarettes, but they can damage the heart, blood vessels, brain, lungs and immune system,” he concludes: “One solution is safe for our health, to quit smoking altogether. . Challenging, but achievable. A combination of specialist discontinued medication and support produced the best results. Working with the experts at a smoking cessation clinic goes a long way to making the addiction journey less painful. But what is encouraging is that it only lasts for a few weeks.”