Electronic cigarettes (E-cigs)

Nurses Education

Published

Hello everyone,

So I saw this old clip today for the first time:

and at the 3:23, Letterman's guest begins to suggest that nicotine is not harmful to one's health. Clearly, advocating this E-cigarette device is part of her agenda while on Letterman's show, and sadly, she sidesteps the real consequences of long term nicotine use.

Before I get too rant-y, I will say that when a smoker friend of mine tells me they're switching to E-cigs I am happy for them as I feel there's a better chance for them to quit altogether. However, most of them are surprised to learn that using these devices will still lead to increased BP, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and all the other manifestations of arteriosclerosis.

Usually, I just comment by saying, "It'll save your lungs but wreck your heart"

Anyway, I just wanted to bring this topic to discussion. Have people on this board addressed this topic to patients, or other people in the general public? What have been their response? Do you feel most people are aware of the dangers for nicotine?

Oh, I smoked for 15 years and it about ruined me. Once I had my 2 little girls, I decided it wasn't worth it, but it was extremely hard to stop. I used the patch for 8 weeks before I broke the habit. That was 11 years ago.

My husband smoked up until a few weeks ago now he's using the e-cig. I'm on the fence about it. On one hand, he's not inhaling all that smoke which damages the lungs and the heart. On the other hand, he has a long history in his family of heart disease. I would like to think it will help him break the habit. However, I have the feeling it will just prolong it.

Does anyone know if it affects the stomach as well? He had to start Protonix soon after he got on this thing when he went to the hospital with severe gastric pain.

Specializes in Med-Surg/Telemetry.

Countless? Really? For what it's worth, virtually all methods of smoking cessation carry some degree of risk / side effects. What really matters here is the increased quality of life gained by the former smoker's determination to change a detrimental behavior.

Great points when considering addictive behaviors rather than simply the reduction of tar and other toxins associating with the smoke of traditional cigarettes.

I find it intresting how much misinformation there is about E-Cigs, I am a huge E-cig vaper (e cig "smokers" are called Vapers).

I've been vaping for about 6 months, and my self and a few of those who have close to me have completely quit smoking cigarettes.

There are three main components in E-cig liquid: Vegetable Glycerin, Propylene Glycol and Pure Nicotine extract. (there are flavorings as well)

These three components are heated up and vaporized (there is no combustion) by a coil, this alone is safer than cigarettes in the sense that in cigarettes the combustion of tobacco leaves is mainly responsible for the release of the carcinogens/tar/nasty stuff..

Now lets talk about the ingredients:

Propylene Glycol is "generally recognized as safe" by the FDA, It is used in a miriad of different consumer products and pharmaceuticals its used in Asthma Inhalers, dog food, baby wipes.. etc..

It is used as a humectant (a substance used to keep something moist and retain water).

Propylene Glycol is easily metabolized by the liver into Pyruvic Acid, there is also no bio-accumulation (build up in the body over time)

It is true that some people have allergies to it, also some people report mild irritation on their skin

Sources: The safety of propylene glycol (PG) when inhaled through an electronic cigarette. Studies on the effect of the inhalation of propylene glycol through a personal vaporizer.The Truth and Fiction about Propylene Glycol

Vegetable Glycerin:

Vegetable glycerin is used in a quite a few consumer products as well

It's used in food and beverages as a humectant, sweetener and food preservative

It's used in medical and cosmetic industry as a means of improving smoothness and also as a humectant.

Vegetable glycerin is one of the most benign organic substances:

Glycerol is of low toxicity when ingested, inhaled, or in contact with skin

The NOACE for local irritant effects to the upper respiratory tract is 165 mg/m3

Glycerol is of a low order of acute oral and dermal toxicity with LD50 values in excess of 4000 mg/kw bw.

Glycerol does not induce gene mutations in bacterial strains, chromosomal effects in mammalian cells or primary DNA damage in vitro

Overall, glycerol is not considered to possess genotoxic potential

No effects on fertility and reproductive performance were observed

Source: The safety of vegetable glycerin (VG) when inhaled through an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette). Studies on the effect of the inhalation of vegetable glycerin through a personal vaporizer.

Now lets talk about Nicotine:

Nicotine by its self, while in large doses is deadly, small amounts are comparable to the effects of caffeine.

Both Nicotine and Caffeine are Alkaloids, they are both natural insecticides and they both have stimulant effects on humans.

they effect similar neurotransmitters and both release epinephrine (which is one of the hormones responsible for the increase in HR and a Spike in BP)

Source: Caffeine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (I know wikipedia isnt a scholarly source, but due to time constraints I had to use it)

source: Nicotine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A person with heart disease, or blood pressure issues should avoid caffeine as much as nicotine.. But there is a common misunderstanding that nicotine is carcinogenic and a million times more deadly.. when in reality by its self, nicotine is very similar to caffeine..

I hope i could shed some more light on this topic of E-cigs, if there are any questions feel free to ask!

and sorry for all the grammar mistakes I am running on little sleep!

Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

Very informative.

"I take it you've never smoked, so don't have any idea that in a smoker's mind"

Smoked for 7 years. When I quit I had been smoking a pack/day for a years, and I remember quite well the smoker 'mindset'. Quit after the second attempt with Chantix.

"Your friends deserve congratulations, not admonishment."

I do express congratulations. Like I said, I'm happy for them , as it may help them quit altogether.

So you do understand. I'm sorry for making an assumption, and I'm sorry for snipping. It just really gets under my skin when people who have never smoked have opinions about how other people should quit. I'm glad you were able to quit. I suppose I can understand your trepidations with e-cigs, as I have similar trepidations concerning Chantix. It scares the doody out of me, and I don't think the side effects have been well enough explored to consider it safe. It works great for a lot of people, I can't argue that. I think it's a bad idea for those of us with preexisting mental health issues.

Sorry again for the attitude.

Specializes in Urgent Care.

Good info MusicEMT. Very factual.

On the stories of ecigs exploding - I don't believe there are any cases of this being caused by defective ecigs. The cause is invariably that the user cleaned with rubbing alcohol and then used the Ecig causing ignition of the alcohol vapors. The directions say to let the vaporizer air dry over nite in a well ventilated space after cleaning or an explosion may occur.

They don't mysteriously just explode. It is user error.

Here are a link to story about the e-cigarettes blowing up....

Electronic cigarette explodes in man's mouth, causes serious injuries - HealthPop - CBS News

There are also stories about them blowing up while being charged causing fires.

Corona Couple Sues After E-Cigarette Battery Explodes In Car « CBS Los Angeles

Police: 'Explosion' at apartment complex came from e-cigarette | Oklahoma City - OKC - KOCO.com

I'm not saying that they are not a tool that could be used to stop smoking but there are risks.

Here are a link to story about the e-cigarettes blowing up....

Electronic cigarette explodes in man's mouth, causes serious injuries - HealthPop - CBS News

There are also stories about them blowing up while being charged causing fires.

Corona Couple Sues After E-Cigarette Battery Explodes In Car « CBS Los Angeles

Police: 'Explosion' at apartment complex came from e-cigarette | Oklahoma City - OKC - KOCO.com

I'm not saying that they are not a tool that could be used to stop smoking but there are risks.

Totally off topic...but, in reading the first link, who puts out fires with salt? How much salt is needed to extinguish fire? Who has enough salt at hand to use it to fight fires? I'm so confused.

Didn't read the whole thread (sorry, on my mobile) but I just had to point out an aside - ahem..... WHAT THE HELL IS JENNY MCARTHY DOING PROMOTING ECIGS IN COMMERCIALS?!?! ISNT SHE THE ONE WHO THINKS VACCINES CAUSE AUTISM??

I say they're better, but nicotine is still harmful to ingest so they're not healthy for you. They really can help you quit though, especially if someone is educated on the fact that you can taper down the nicotine strengths (and sticks to it). My fiance actually quit by using an e-cig; it does work. No it's not ideal, as say, not smoking at all is, but we're not talking ideal.

Specializes in retired LTC.

tick...tick...tick...tick...tick... Wait for it!

Just the stopwatch ticking away just until the FDA (and the legal industry) comes up with statistics and evidence that these e-cigs "are hazardous to your health". And then you'll be seeing all those 'dial 1-800 call XYZ law firm for damages if you smoked e-cigs" on late nite TV.

I vividly remember the just-not-so-long-ago commercials for Yaz/Yazmine/Ocella birth control that was advertised on TV. It now joins the rank of that 'dial 1-800' club. Even Pradaxa has now been added to the club!! And how long has that been used?!?

They pulled all those cox2 inhibitors (except Celebrex), that were touted as the newest best thing after white bread.

Don't give me anything new! Just give me the old reliables because it'll just be a matter of time before they pull those new meds because of the serious negative sequellae

tick...tick...tick...

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