Electronic Cigarettes Price, Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More

Inadvertently, we all come across people trying to get rid of their smoking habit. As per stats, around 70% of people want to quit smoking, but despite understanding the harm it causes, they have been unable to do so.

For many of them, electronic cigarettes (such as vape pens, e-cigarettes, and the like) have been the first step to becoming a non-smoker. But are they of any help, and can they help you get rid of your smoking habits?

What are Electronic Cigarettes?

Also known as e-cigarettes, vape pens, e-cigs, or vapour cigarettes, electronic cigarettes look like USB flash devices that contain e-liquid and a mechanism to heat it using batteries or electricity to convert it into a mist. 

While the specific content of e-liquid varies depending on the brand and the particular product, it generally contains flavours and a base liquid (a mix of water, propylene glycol, and vegetable glycerine).

Are There Any Benefits of E-Cigarettes?

Yes, there are certain benefits of e-cigarettes over regular cigarettes. However, they aren’t completely harmless. Electronic cigarettes are a modified version of the usual cigarettes with a focus on minimising or removing the nicotine content altogether. It makes them a more sustainable choice for smokers and the world alike. In addition, the fact that they do not produce carbon monoxide or tar, principal components of tobacco smoke, further makes them a better option even for the environment. 

Price of Electronic Cigarettes in India

The cost of e-cigarettes in India can vary from INR 100 to INR 700. If you want to buy a vaping device, it can cost you anything between INR 600 and INR 6,000 per piece, depending on the puffs and the flavour. 

How Do Electronic Cigarettes Work?

The look of an electronic cigarette closely resembles the regular cigarettes and pipes available in the market. It encourages those looking to quit smoking to give them a try. They use batteries or electricity to turn the e-liquid into an aerosol that the users inhale. 

Risk & Side Effects: 7 Reasons to Avoid Vaping

As mentioned above, electronic vaping is an alternative safer than the usual cigarettes, but they are not entirely risk-free. Here are some of the risks and side effects involved with vaping - 

#1 They aren’t 100% safe

Most vaping mechanisms heat nicotine (a tobacco extraction) mixed with other chemicals, such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds), chemical flavourings, and heavy metals. When a smoker takes a puff, they are exposed to these toxic chemicals.  

#2 They are bad for your heart

Vaping has been linked to chronic lung diseases and asthma. In addition, people who consume electronic cigarettes with regular ones often suffer from cardiovascular diseases. 

#3 Vaping can lead to cancer

Research published in 2017 reported that the temperatures required to turn e-liquid into an aerosol could create several toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde, a cancer-causing substance. 

#4 They can cause nicotine addiction

Most electronic cigarettes have nicotine as the main ingredient, a highly addictive substance. Studies have found that people who have started vaping continue to vape because of their nicotine addiction. 

#5 Lung diseases

Ingredients like cinnamaldehyde and diacetyl are known to cause severe lung diseases. The former is known to cause something similar to bronchiolitis, whereas the latter affects lung tissues.

#6 Drug and alcohol addiction

Regular nicotine inhalation has been linked to causing severe addiction to several other unwanted substances, such as alcohol. It has been specially experienced by those in their teens. 

#7 Prone to explosions

There have been several cases of vape explosions caused by faulty batteries. While not very frequent, these can prove fatal and cause unwanted injuries. 

Teens, Adults, & E-Cigarettes

A large percentage of electronic cigarette users are young people who do not necessarily understand the pros and cons of smoking but continue to do so because of peer pressure or addiction. 

Nicotine exposure during such critical times can cause permanent damage to brain development. A 2018 report found that those regularly consuming e-cigarettes are more likely to start smoking regular cigarettes than those who are not habituated to vaping. 

Final Verdict on Electronic Cigarettes

For all those who take the e-cigarette route in a bid to quit smoking, know that it is a myth. Electronic cigarettes come with their fatalities and are known to cause nicotine addiction. So, if you are looking for a safer alternative, make sure you get products from trusted brands that are nicotine-free and do not contain other tobacco products. You can even consider hemp-based herbal cigarettes than help curb smoking addiction apart from offering a host of additional benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1. Is electronic cigarette harmful?

Ans. Yes, an electronic cigarette is harmful. An e-cigarette can contain a plethora of harmful ingredients, such as nicotine and other ultrafine particles. Even the process of converting the e-liquid into aerosol can be cancer-inducing. 

Q.2. Are electronic cigarettes better than regular cigarettes?

Ans. Yes, electronic cigarettes are relatively less harmful than regular cigarettes. While less harmful than regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes do have their caveats. Its aerosol contains fewer toxic chemicals and lower level of harmful substances. 

Q.3. Are e-cigarettes and vaping the same?

Ans. Yes, E-cigarettes and vaping are used alternatively because the underlying process of creating a mist is similar. 

Q.4. Are e-cigarettes better than smoking?

Ans. Yes, e-cigarettes are relatively better than smoking. Electronic cigarettes are a better alternative to smoking but aren’t completely safe. While they exude lower toxic substances, these are not harmless. 

Q.5. Can vape damage the lungs?

Ans. Yes, vape can damage lungs. Several reports have found vaping to cause severe lung diseases and tissue damage. 

Q.6. What are the five dangers of vaping?

Here are the dangers of vaping - 

• Rapid onset of coughing
• Breathing difficulties
• Diarrhoea
• Weight loss
• Nausea and vomiting

Q.7. How many puffs of a vape are equal to a cigarette?

Ans. Ten puffs of an e-cigarette are equivalent to smoking a regular cigarette. 

Q.8. What is the healthiest vape?

Ans. There is nothing called a healthy vape. But if you are still looking for a safer option, you can look for nicotine-free ones. 

Q.9 Is it OK to vape without nicotine?

Ans. Even if an e-cigarette is without nicotine, the e-liquid contains several other harmful ingredients, which means that it is not safe to vape, even those without nicotine. So, in a nutshell, NO, it is not ok to vape without nicotine.

Q.10 Which is the safest e-cigarette?

Ans. While buying e-cigarettes, make sure you look for those which are nicotine-free. There are several top options, such as ECOvape VSAVE e-Liquid, which offers 100% organic offerings containing lower harmful chemical ingredients than their counterparts. 

References

E-cigarettes induce toxicological effects that can raise the cancer risk - 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-02317-8

Studies presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress - 

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/new-studies-conclude-e-cigarettes-are-not-healthy