Call of 100 Physicians for ecigs

[Spazmelda]

This was big news on twitter this morning:

Letter signed by 100 French physicians in favor of ecigs.

APPEL DES 100 / CALL OF 100 PHYSICIANS FOR E-CIGARETTES - Le blog de Jacques Le Houezec

Makes a nice break from 'ermagerd kids hookahs ecigs disaster!'

 

[WarHawk-AVG]

Wow...nice

 

[Talyon]

Nice find.....

Some are getting it.

 

[Spazmelda]

I wish we had something like this in the US. I know there are physicians who are quietly recommending ecigs, and physicians who are seeing health improvements in their patients using ecigs. What would it take to get them to speak up?

 

[Anjaffm]

That is wonderful!
thank you for posting it!

 

[LDS714]

I wish we had something like this in the US. I know there are physicians who are quietly recommending ecigs, and physicians who are seeing health improvements in their patients using ecigs. What would it take to get them to speak up?

Money. Enough to offset whatever they get from Chantix prescriptions.

 

[AgentAnia]

I wish we had something like this in the US. I know there are physicians who are quietly recommending ecigs, and physicians who are seeing health improvements in their patients using ecigs. What would it take to get them to speak up?

I don't know how much sway the American Medical Assn. holds over doctors these days (it used to rule with an iron fist...), and the AMA hasn't been very vocal on the subject that I'm aware of, since their support of the FDA's attempted ban in 2009. Just checked their website and couldn't find any current support for vaping, so I have to assume their anti-vaping policy still stands. Add this to BP's influence, and I'm not surprised that more doctors aren't speaking out publicly to support us.

Sad...

 

[RosaJ]

I believe the biggest fear doctors have for not publicly endorsing ecigs is the fear of malpractice lawsuits. Heck, even when they prescribe FDA approved meds, they're liable.

 

[AgentAnia]

I believe the biggest fear doctors have for not publicly endorsing ecigs is the fear of malpractice lawsuits. Heck, even when they prescribe FDA approved meds, they're liable.

Good point, Rosa...

 

[Uma]

That just made my day!

 

[bruiser]

I don't know how much sway the American Medical Assn. holds over doctors these days (it used to rule with an iron fist...), and the AMA hasn't been very vocal on the subject that I'm aware of, since their support of the FDA's attempted ban in 2009. Just checked their website and couldn't find any current support for vaping, so I have to assume their anti-vaping policy still stands. Add this to BP's influence, and I'm not surprised that more doctors aren't speaking out publicly to support us.

Sad...

The AMA doesn't hold much sway over doctors these days. Only about 20% of doctors belong to the AMA.

 

[AgentAnia]

The AMA doesn't hold much sway over doctors these days. Only about 20% of doctors belong to the AMA.

Well! That's the best news I've heard all day. Thanks for the update, bruiser!

 

[Vocalek]

I became curious about the attitude toward e-cigarettes on the part of my healthcare provider, Kaiser Permanente. So I did a Google search on "Kaiser Permanente electronic cigarette."

I find the results refreshingly honest. https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.or...WtpJmHp2Xz-DxSmcdsc9GJbxZqCkdD50j9ftD8Uc-o4!/

Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices that turn liquid nicotine into a vapor that you inhale. Many of them are made to look like real cigarettes. Some even have a light at the end that glows when you inhale.

For smokers, electronic cigarettes may satisfy nicotine cravings. They can be used in nonsmoking areas. And they may have less of the harmful chemicals that are in cigarette smoke. These cigarettes are often called e-cigarettesClick here to see an illustration..

How do electronic cigarettes work?

E-cigarettes have three main parts.

The mouthpiece has a cartridge. The cartridge contains a nicotine solution.
A heating element turns the solution into a vapor when you inhale.
A battery provides power to the heating element.

The nicotine in these cigarettes comes in flavors. Flavors include "regular" and "menthol." But they also include hundreds of other flavors like cherry, chocolate, and cola.

A chemical in the vapor turns it white so that it looks like smoke, even when you exhale.

Electronic cigars and pipes are also available.

Are e-cigarettes safe?

Since most of the harm from smoking is not from nicotine but from other things in tobacco, e-cigarettes may be safer than real cigarettes. But more research is needed before experts can say for sure.

The cartridges contain different levels of nicotine. So in theory, you could lower the nicotine levels over time until you no longer crave nicotine. This is why some people use them as aids to quitting smoking.

If you are thinking about using e-cigarettes to help you quit smoking, talk to your doctor first.

Under the link to related information I found this:

Last Revised: July 6, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD, MD - Family Medicine & John Hughes, MD - Psychiatry

So even without the information from the most recent studies such as the Bullen clinical trial showing e-cigarettes are at least as effective as a nicotine patch, and Dr. Igor Burstyn's comprehensive review of the toxicology testing on liquids and vapor, they came up with a very reasonable approach.

The Hughes article I like best is this one: Smoking and Dependence

 

[Traver]

Insurance companies waking up to the benefits o ecigs makes sense because it would put money in their pockets.

 

[Vocalek]

My internal specialist doesn't seem to grasp the concept of tobacco harm reduction. He keeps asking me when I am going to quit using the e-cigarette.

My neurologist and psychiatrist understand that nicotine's beneficial effects keep some of my health problems under control better, or with fewer side effects, than the FDA-approved medications for treatment.

 

[patkin]

The problem I have with these ecig statements even when neutral or positive is that they usually say "inhale" and that's just not true as a universal statement. Admittedly, most smokers may start out that way but with time the rate of inhalers seems to decrease going by my own offline experience and those I've read of here at ECF. Even when not experiencing any lung issues, many x-smokers once they've chosen to stop smoke going into their lungs and experienced what healed lungs feel like want to avoid anything but clean air going into them. I do think its an important point since most of the ANTZ scare propaganda has to do with lung effects and is the main differentiating factor between say nic gum/patches vs nic inhalation.