The number one product for quitting smoking are definitely electronic cigarettes. This doesn’t surprise at all because, unlike all the nicotine patches, gums, pills and other products, this is the only one that actually lets you enjoy the reason you got addicted in the first place – smoking. The feeling of holding that cigarette in your hand, inhaling the sweet tasting smoke…These are the things people smoke for. So, from the minute electronic cigarettes hit the market, they were selling like crazy. Who wouldn’t want to quit smoking and enjoy the habit at the same time? It sounded almost too good to be true, and then one scientific study after another proved that things might not be as bright as we thought they were. Many skeptics have the theory about electronic cigarettes being actually more dangerous for your health than real ones, while thousands of ex smokers praise electronic cigarettes as the thing that helped them change their lives and kick the habit.
While the truth is most often in the middle, without any more thorough studies and clinical trials it’s hard to tell which side is right. We’ve gathered all the info on both electronic cigarettes and their real version to try and point out pros and cons for smoking either Here’s some of the major differences and risks associated with both types of cigarettes.
Most electronic cigarettes aren’t nicotine free
The most common misconception about electronic cigarettes is that they’re 100% nicotine free. The truth is that they are sold in four different variations, depending on the nicotine level which can be low, mid range, high and extra high. Even those electronic cigarettes that are supposedly nicotine free can contain low levels of nicotine, as some studies discovered by examining random brands found on the market. While in theory there is a certain level of nicotine in the liquid according to the group they fit in, in real life concentrations of nicotine you inhale with each puff can vary significantly. This means that you could be inhaling way much nicotine than you would with real cigarettes, while under the illusion that you’ve decreased your daily intake. This not only doesn’t help quit but can prove to be a health hazard.
Accidental nicotine poisoning
Since the nicotine in electronic cigarettes is in liquid state, in the liquid that gets vaporized and inhaled later, the accidental poisoning is more likely than with the real thing. You’d have to chain smoke a lot of cigarettes to poison yourself with nicotine, but with electronic cigarettes, there’s an actual chance this might happen. Sometimes small amounts of liquid don’t get vaporized but end up in your mouth instead, and swallowing them could lead to some pretty unpleasant side effects.
Chemicals everywhere
Real cigarettes are considered a health hazard due to a whole range of chemicals they contain, but electronic cigarettes take the crown when it comes to dangerous chemicals. The list of things found in electronic cigarettes is so long it raises the question whether these actually are a more healthy alternative to smoking.