For many, e-cigs are an elegant solution - 19 Dec 14

[Anjaffm]

Sun Current | Column: For many, e-cigs are an elegant solution

Sun Current, 19 Dec 2014

During the last few years, electronic cigarettes have quietly become the most effective smoking cessation method available.
As e-cig use – “vaping” – has increased, smoking prevalence has decreased nationally from 21 percent in 2005 to 17.8 percent in recent years, which translates into millions of former smokers. This is the fastest decrease in smoking rates we’ve ever seen, both for youngsters and adults.

First, e-cigs have no combustion, no smelly smoke, no tobacco and no carcinogenic tar. The exhaled water vapor is harmless to bystanders, according to studies thus far. Second, tobacco cigarettes contain at least 4,000 ingredients, some carcinogenic, added over the decades to enhance taste and increase addictiveness. By contrast, e-cigs contain just four ingredients — vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, nicotine (which is flavorless) and flavoring.

But what about nicotine, in and of itself? It is a mild stimulant and, like caffeine, powerfully addictive, but not especially harmful and not carcinogenic. It has a temporary, mild constricting effect on blood vessels, which may raise blood pressure slightly. But if nicotine per se were harmful, it would not be available over the counter in gum or lozenge forms.

So in this big, messy, complicated world, we do what we can. This issue is about harm reduction – like seat belts, air bags, condoms and vaccinations. There are degrees of harm, and sometimes the best we can do is to take what we know, trust the unbiased research, weigh the costs and benefits, then massage the odds in a healthy direction, until something better comes along. Vaping is a significantly less harmful alternative to smoking.

- great comment
- comments are open.. hint hint...

 

[AndriaD]

It's nice to see that not ALL media has lost its mind/sold its soul to big corporate interests. There still ARE some intelligent people reporting actual news -- fancy that!

Andria