Electronic Cigarettes Are Not a Safe Alternative to Tobacco Products
The emergence of liquid nicotine and E-Cigarettes has piqued the interest of many. At first glance E-Cigarettes seem like a safe alternative to traditional tobacco products because there is no smoke, which has been linked to cancer and heart disease. However, most people are not aware of what exactly an electronic cigarette is and the effect of these products on the body. E-Cigarettes and liquid nicotine are not as safe as they are marketed to be. Electronic cigarettes are fundamentally different than traditional cigarettes in how they operate. E-Cigarettes contain a cartridge to hold liquid nicotine and other chemicals, rather than tobacco, which is where the addictive drug …show more content…
Nicotine itself alters the chemical composition of the body by releasing epinephrine and activating the fight-or-flight response (Ray, 2008). Nicotine is also linked to numerous health issues, including those related to heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, and blood vessels, all of which lead to life-long health complications (Ray, 2008). Due to the fact that nicotine is a drug, a tolerance is developed with continuous use (Feature, 2014). This results in withdrawal syndromes, such as irritability and depression (Feature, 2014). While both traditional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes contain nicotine, E-Cigarettes utilize liquid nicotine, which has the potential to be much more potent than nicotine found in tobacco. As stated in, “Selling a Poison by the Barrel: Liquid Nicotine for E-Cigarettes,” liquid nicotine is not regulated by the FDA and the nicotine levels in these e-liquids varies. While most e-liquids contain a relatively low percentage of nicotine, there are some with much higher concentrations, which can be fatal, available online (Richtel, 2014). Switching to e-cigarettes would eliminate the consumption of tar and smoke, but it would not eradicate the dangerous health effects associated with nicotine …show more content…
A study funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, revealed the benefits of electronic cigarettes as a way to quit smoking outweigh the potential dangers (Reinberg, 2014). Electronic cigarettes are useful to those addicted to smoking, who are looking for an alternative or a way to limit their consumption (Reinberg, 2014). Simply put, the primary advantage of using liquid nicotine products is that they do not use smoke, which is incredibly harmful to the body and can lead to cancer, heart and lung disease, and even death (Ray, 2008). However, there are disadvantages associated with liquid nicotine. These risks include high blood pressure, heart disease, unregulated concentrations which can lead to death, and unknown long-term effects for both consumers and others around them (Feature, 2014). Before using electronic cigarettes and liquid nicotine, one should seriously consider all of these
The emergence of liquid nicotine and E-Cigarettes has piqued the interest of many. At first glance E-Cigarettes seem like a safe alternative to traditional tobacco products because there is no smoke, which has been linked to cancer and heart disease. However, most people are not aware of what exactly an electronic cigarette is and the effect of these products on the body. E-Cigarettes and liquid nicotine are not as safe as they are marketed to be. Electronic cigarettes are fundamentally different than traditional cigarettes in how they operate. E-Cigarettes contain a cartridge to hold liquid nicotine and other chemicals, rather than tobacco, which is where the addictive drug …show more content…
Nicotine itself alters the chemical composition of the body by releasing epinephrine and activating the fight-or-flight response (Ray, 2008). Nicotine is also linked to numerous health issues, including those related to heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, and blood vessels, all of which lead to life-long health complications (Ray, 2008). Due to the fact that nicotine is a drug, a tolerance is developed with continuous use (Feature, 2014). This results in withdrawal syndromes, such as irritability and depression (Feature, 2014). While both traditional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes contain nicotine, E-Cigarettes utilize liquid nicotine, which has the potential to be much more potent than nicotine found in tobacco. As stated in, “Selling a Poison by the Barrel: Liquid Nicotine for E-Cigarettes,” liquid nicotine is not regulated by the FDA and the nicotine levels in these e-liquids varies. While most e-liquids contain a relatively low percentage of nicotine, there are some with much higher concentrations, which can be fatal, available online (Richtel, 2014). Switching to e-cigarettes would eliminate the consumption of tar and smoke, but it would not eradicate the dangerous health effects associated with nicotine …show more content…
A study funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, revealed the benefits of electronic cigarettes as a way to quit smoking outweigh the potential dangers (Reinberg, 2014). Electronic cigarettes are useful to those addicted to smoking, who are looking for an alternative or a way to limit their consumption (Reinberg, 2014). Simply put, the primary advantage of using liquid nicotine products is that they do not use smoke, which is incredibly harmful to the body and can lead to cancer, heart and lung disease, and even death (Ray, 2008). However, there are disadvantages associated with liquid nicotine. These risks include high blood pressure, heart disease, unregulated concentrations which can lead to death, and unknown long-term effects for both consumers and others around them (Feature, 2014). Before using electronic cigarettes and liquid nicotine, one should seriously consider all of these