E-Cigarettes

E-cigarettes are a nicotine delivery system to the lungs that doesn’t involve the carcinogenic byproducts of burning tobacco leaves. Rather, a liquid nicotine solution is vaporized into steam that is inhaled. There has been no association to date of e-cigs with cancer, but that doesn’t mean that they are a good idea.

As a replacement for regular cigarettes, e-cigs might be a public health win by reducing lung cancer but the risk of cardiovascular disease would remain. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, increasing blood pressure and reducing delivery of oxygen-rich blood. Unlike conventional cigarettes, there is no learning to inhale or initial coughing bouts leading to concern that e-cigs might be the gateway to other tobacco use, especially for teens. E-cigs are so easy to use that one reviewer said that she could smoke them while on the treadmill.

E-cigs come in a variety of ‘flavors’ and different concentrations of nicotine. Nicotine is known to improve mood and many find it an effective appetite suppressant. There is a small amount of contested evidence that it might delay the start of Alzheimer’s disease – not a reason to start using nicotine in any form.

Another danger of e-cigs is that it might become socially acceptable to use them indoors, exposing others to the nicotine-laced steam. New York City, among other places, limits the use of e-cigs the same way as conventional cigarettes including the proscription against use in outdoor public places.

Both tobacco companies and pharmaceutical companies have financial interests in e-cigs, but the final say lies with both regulators and the users. If society thinks that smoking is a bad idea the type of nicotine delivery won’t matter.