With the recent ban on smoking cigarettes in public locations including restaurants, theme parks, restaurants and other public venues, the rise in sales of E-cigs, or E-cigarettes has skyrocketed. E-cigs are cigarette alternatives that do not require the burning of a cigarette to deliver nicotine to the lungs, brain and heart. Understanding whether E-cigs are in fact, a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes is a way to gain more insight into whether they are an ideal option for you if you decide to quit altogether.
What Is An E-Cig?
An E-cig is a device that uses a technique considered to be “vaping”, when delivering the nicotine to its user. The device itself does not burn or cause a smell to surrounding individuals, which is why it is legal in most public locations today, including restaurants and bars. E-cigarettes work with liquid nicotine, available in a variety of flavors, in addition to a battery that helps to heat the liquid into a vaporized substance to inhale. Although the user of the E-cig can taste the cigarette themselves upon inhaling, there is no smoke or smell discharged upon exhaling. E-cigarettes are currently legal and allowed in most locations, regardless of whether there is currently a no smoking policy in place, as they have not been regulated nor banned officially by any states or the federal government.
Advantages of Using E-Cigs
Using an E-cigarette is allowed in nearly all public places, as the device itself does not create smoke, a smell or any discharge that may disrupt others around you. Using an E-cigarette is a way for you to get your craving of nicotine without going outside, even when you are at a bar or restaurant with friends and family. E-cigarettes also come in a variety of flavors, ranging from traditional fruit flavors such as strawberry and blueberry to unique flavors including mint, chocolate and even butterscotch for a new twist on nicotine.
Additionally, E-cigs are also known to have a fraction of the chemicals that cause damage as traditional cigarettes, which is why they have skyrocketed in sales and popularity over the past few years. However, understanding that there are still health risks involved with any type of E-cigarette alternative you have selected is a way for you to determine which type of option is best for you when you no longer desire to smoke cigarettes out of the box.
Health Risks of E-Cigarettes
Although using an E-cigarette has shown to have less than a fraction of the chemicals in traditional cigarettes, it still has its own health risks and addiction potential. Using nicotine repeatedly over time still becomes addictive, regardless of its form and the type of cigarette you are smoking or using as a vaporizer. Even if you are using an E-cig regularly, you will become addicted to the actual liquid, which contains nicotine itself.
Additionally, using nicotine and smoking over time progressively damages the heart and arteries, putting you at risk not only for lung cancer, but for potential heart disease, even if you choose to use an alternative such as an E-cigarette.
Currently, E-cigs are not regulated by the FDA, so the amount of nicotine you purchase and the method of using it is not always the healthiest, which is why it is essential to conduct an adequate amount of research on the type of E-cigarette alternative you are interested in prior to making a purchase.
Withdrawals of E-Cigs
Withdrawals from E-cigarettes are similar to those of weening off of traditional cigarettes, as it requires the individual to break free from using nicotine altogether. When you stop using an E-cig after you have become addicted, you may become highly irritable and emotional, anxious and even sad or depressed depending on how addicted your body and mind has become to the nicotine itself. If you have an underlying or already-discovered heart problem, it is highly advisable to avoid nicotine and any smoking substance that may contribute to the medical issue.
Comparing Your Options
If you are unable to smoke cigarettes in public locations and you are still interested in a nicotine alternative, your options include using nicotine-based gum as well as a patch or, an E-cig. Using an E-cigarette is ideal for those who are looking for a cigarette alternative or anyone who wants to rid actual smoking and additional unnecessary chemicals from the habit of using nicotine regularly.
The more you know about tobacco, cigarettes and even alternatives such as E-cigs, the easier it is to choose which option is for you if you want to quick traditional smoking. Even though E-cigarettes are ideal for public locations if you are unable to smoke cigarettes but you are still craving nicotine, it does not relieve you from all risks of becoming addicted, which should be considered before switching to an E-cig yourself.
