Known for their appetizing flavors, such as bubblegum, banana and strawberry, e-cigarettes continue to grow in popularity around the world. Promoted by makers as a “healthy” alternative to regular tobacco cigarettes, researchers are finding e-cigarettes, or vaping, still result in injury to the lungs.
In a recent study published in the American Journal of Physiology , teams at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the University of Adelaide School of Medicine in Australia found that the flavoring chemicals of e-cigarette vapor alone can measurably damage the lungs, regardless of the presence of nicotine.
“Ninety-nine percent of e-cigarette liquids are flavored. To create these flavor profiles, companies are adding multiple chemicals to achieve that ‘perfect’ taste,” said Laura Crotty Alexander, MD, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and section chief of Pulmonary Critical Care at Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. “These chemicals have been found to be toxic to the lungs. When inhaled, they wreak havoc on the lungs and affect specialized protein levels that help keep the body’s immune system on track.”
I used ecigs to give up smoking. However since stopping them my chest as felt immeasurable better. Also for the year following my bilateral pneumonia I had four or five chest infections. After stopping ecigs I have had one. From personal experience I believe much of what is being said in the paper is correct. But I would not stop anyone using one to give up smoking.
It took me a long time to come to that conclusion. I woke up one morning and said to myself "this is stupid". I have replaced one habit with another. Happily 3 months later I stopped. If I was to give advice I would definitely state do not get a flavor you like.
Can’t understand why these are touted as a way to give up smoking.the flavouring chemicals are potentially dangerous.I know someone who wanted to give up smoking -asthma/COPD.
She is still vaping 2 years on .?
When I gave up smoking over 30 years ago,it was with will power.
My husband and I,had a bet.
The person who smoked has to give te other £100,it was worth a lot more then.
It was a bit rough,at 1 point he offered to give me ?100 so that He could smoke.
I insisted that the bet went on.we haven’t smoked since.
I now have NSIP lng disease,the docs say it’s not down to smoking,apparently non smokers get it.
I have always said here that we simply do not know the long term consequences of e-cigs, and while they may be safer than traditional cigarettes we simply don’t know for sure and consequently it bothered me when others kept assuring people it was completely harmless. It may be many years before we know and understand all of the long term consequences. People are certainly free to use them as an aid to quitting smoking, my only objection is people trying to convince others that it is harmless when we simply don’t know.
I have vaping induced copd. I suggest to stay away from both vaping and smoking
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