Is an Electronic Cigarette Safer than a Regular Cigarette?

Electronic Cigarettes
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Some say yes, others say no. Whatever the response, people are citing a number of different reasons for their opinion.

Those who believe that an electronic cigarette is safer than a regular cigarette give several typical responses. One is that the device is safer because no tobacco product is being burned, thus no tars or chemicals are being taken into the body (as happens with regular cigarettes).

Others say that an electronic cigarette is safer because even if the contains some nicotine liquid, the amount taken in is nowhere near that of a regular cigarette. Less nicotine means less danger from nicotine intake; plus, taking in less nicotine can help them cut down or even stop smoking regular cigarettes.

The argument is also made that an electronic cigarette is safer because nothing is burning. There is no danger of burning oneself or someone else with the lit end, or of anything catching fire should one fall asleep while smoking an electronic cigarette. This can be especially true, they say, of those devices that have automatic shut-off features that operate when the device has not been puffed on for a while.

Those who take an opposing view say they believe an electronic cigarette is not safer because the filters and delivery methods in the devices can actually release harmful chemicals. They also say that if one smokes an electronic cigarette that contains liquid nicotine, the chemical is being absorbed in the body, and even a small amount is too much.

They also say that anyone who truly wants to quit smoking can take advantage of smoking cessation methods such as nicotine patches or even acupuncture, which is a part of traditional Chinese medicine practices. Any of these may help someone be able to stop smoking entirely, without having to rely on e-cigarettes.

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Do Coffee and Cigarettes Just Naturally Go Together?

Tobacco smoke in an Irish pub before a smoking...
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Some would say yes, that you simply cannot have one without the other. These, however, may be the ones who are the most affected by cigarette smoking restrictions or even outright bans in workplaces and other public areas. For them, the decision may be between having coffee or a cigarette, as it may be very difficult for them to do both.

For these people, an electric cigarette may be the answer. An electric cigarette does not produce real tobacco smoke that contains the tars, nicotine, and other chemicals that are found in regular tobacco products, nor is there the lingering odor of cigarette smoke. Further, an electric cigarette does not produce any ash and the “smoke” that is produced is simply exhaled water vapor.

If smokers are in the workplace, they may ask their supervisor if smoking an e-cigarette in designated non-smoking areas is allowable. They can explain that the “smoke” is simply water vapor, perhaps scented with menthol or other flavorings.

They can also explain that the water vapor is not the same as “secondhand smoke” that is produced by a regular cigarette. There are no tars or other chemicals, and the nicotine liquid itself has been filtered through the water vapor.

If the e-cigarette smoker is told that it is all right to smoke an e-cigarette in designated non-smoking areas, and if co-workers do not object (some may be sensitive to even the “smoke” caused by the water vapor), then the pairing of coffee and a cigarette can occur again. If, however, the answer is no, or there is objection from co-workers, the e-cigarette user may have to make the decision of which one is more important—the cigarette or the coffee.  Hopefully they all choose the coffee, as it is nowhere near as dangerous as a regular cigarette!

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Electronic Smokes, Washing Your Hands, and Being Responsible

“Take personal responsibility” is the modern day mantra of so-called life coaches. Taking responsibility for each area of your life including health, career, and relationships will make you successful and a contributing member of society. There is increased awareness of one’s influence on one’s own environment. In this era of mutated superbugs, our personal hygiene has an impact on other people’s health and the amount of time and money they will waste on medicines. Corporate social responsibility is on the rise too. It’s not unusual to see advertisements from beer companies advocating responsible drinking and encouraging only people who are age 21 and over to drink.

Smoking is connected to various diseases including cancer and heart ailments. There is ample evidence that passive smoking, the inhalation of secondhand smoke, pretty much causes the same level of harm that active smoking does. However, new technological advancements like electronic smokes help people to indulge in their smoking habits without creating smoke that can harm the people around them. They are touted as the healthier, smokeless, and odorless version of traditional cigarettes. These electronic cigarette kits deliver different levels of nicotine in the form of vapor and give the “smoker” a better experience. People nearby need not worry about passive smoking at all!

At the end of the day, your health is in your hands…Literally! When care is taken to improve hygiene and when one is concerned about the ecosystem in which one lives, there are bound to be improvements in public health. With increased social responsibility exhibited by individuals, corporations, and communities at large, there’s a better chance of combating diseases. Prescribing medicine is a reactive step that’s taken after someone is sick. The goal should be to prevent people from getting sick in the first place. That is the best way to fight the newer strains of the numerous diseases that are emerging around the world.

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Overcoming Addiction and E Cigarettes

Electronic cigarette design. E-cigarette, havi...
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Overcoming addictions can be one of the most difficult things a person can do. Many people have spent a part of their life fighting addictions. One of the most difficult and deadly addictions is cigarette addiction. Nicotine is the primary cause of cigarette addiction – not the cigarettes themselves. Although nicotine is the agent that makes cigarettes addictive, it is the smoke and carcinogens that make smoking so deadly. Not only are cigarettes adverse to the health of smokers, cigarettes can also harm the non-smokers around them due to second-hand smoke.

Many have tried various gimmicks and programs to help defeat a smoking addiction. Anything from drinking grapefruit juice or green tea to taking a bath are common suggestions to help overcome cigarette addiction.

A large industry surrounding addiction treatments continues to develop. Many drugs, devices and programs have been developed to ease the process of quitting smoking. The TV and radio are filled with advertisements selling the latest and greatest method or device to help overcome addictions. Some are more promising than others. E cigarettes are a device that shows some promise.

As opposed to the patch or gum, where small doses of nicotine are either absorbed through the skin or ingested, E cigarettes deliver nicotine almost exactly like a real cigarette – through inhaling. E cigarettes are what their name implies: Electronic cigarettes. They are composed of a tube with an element that vaporizes a nicotine solution as the user inhales through the tube. They are often manufactured to resemble actual cigarettes and the process of “smoking” one closely resembles the act of smoking a real cigarette.

This replication of smoking while eliminating the deadly smoke both inhaled and exhaled make the e cigarette a great option for those wanting to try another method to quit smoking.

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