The controversy concerning the efficacy of electronic cigarettes has been raging since their introduction in 2004. But this week the public health experts, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), have agreed that electronic cigarettes are ‘better than smoking’ and that doctors seeking to help smokers can advise ‘these products are likely to be less harmful than cigarettes’ (Read more in this article from the Telegraph)
E-cigs utilize harmless vapour to achieve the effect of smoking. This, along with the familiar cigarette shape and the addition of a shot of nicotine, encourages smokers to cut down if they are finding giving up in one go particularly difficult. NICE also says that nicotine patches and gum can be used even when the patient continues to smoke as it is ‘relatively harmless’ – backing up what vapers have been saying for years, nicotine itself is not the problem, and the e-cig and it’s alternative method for delivering that nicotine hit is better for you than burning tobacco.
(photo: Article from The Daily Mail on June 5th)
Other experts agree on the safety of ‘vaping’. Robert West, professor of health psychology and director of tobacco studies, at University College London’s department of epidemiology and public health, “Nicotine is not what kills you when you smoke tobacco. E-cigarettes are probably about as safe as drinking coffee. All they contain is water vapour, nicotine and propylene glycol [which is used to help vaporise the liquid nicotine].”
An excellent way to try vaping for yourself are Vapourlites’ VL5 disposable e-cigarettes. Not only are they the same size as a regular cigarette but they are made from ‘soft feel’ material which means they also feel like real cigarettes, which can give you that extra psychological boost if you’re just coming off the tobacco sticks. The VL5 is equivalent up to 20 regular cigarettes or 200 puffs and comes in tobacco and menthol flavours.
So, if you’ve been waiting to hear what the experts say about electronic cigarettes before trying them as an alternative to regular ciggies, this encouraging guidance released by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence should be pointing you in the right direction.
