The Importance Of Electronic Cigarettes
What You Need to Know About Electronic Cigarettes
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-operated devices that deliver nicotine to your body. They may come in the shape of a cigarette, pipe, pen, or even USB memory sticks. E-cigarettes have a cartridge that contains a liquid form of nicotine. When you use the device, the battery heats the liquid. The liquid then becomes a vapor that you inhale. This is called vaping.
While e-cigarettes do not contain the same tar and cancer-causing chemicals that are in tobacco cigarettes, they may contain other harmful and cancer-causing chemicals, such as formaldehyde or acetaldehyde. Nicotine is also thought to increase your risk for certain types of cancer. Many e-cigarettes have chemical colorings …show more content…
and flavorings. It is not clear how much nicotine you get when vaping. The health effects of vaping also are not completely known.
Some people may use e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking tobacco. However, this has not been proven to work, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved e-cigarettes for this purpose.
HOW CAN USING ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AFFECT ME?
• E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive drug. Vaping may make you crave nicotine. Nicotine:
○ Causes increased heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate and changes in blood sugar levels.
○ Increases your risk of developing blood clots (hypercoaguable state) and diabetes.
• If you smoke e-cigarettes, you may be more likely to start smoking or to smoke more tobacco cigarettes.
• Becoming addicted to nicotine may make your brain more sensitive to other addictive drugs. You may move from vaping to other addictive substances.
• If you are pregnant, the nicotine in e-cigarettes may be harmful to your baby. Nicotine can cause brain or lung problems for your baby. Your baby may be born too early or with a low birth weight.
• If you are a child or a teen, vaping may affect your memory or lower your attention span.
• You may be in danger of overdosing on nicotine. Nicotine poisoning can cause nausea, vomiting, seizures, and trouble breathing.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF STOPPING VAPING?
If you stop vaping, you can avoid:
• Becoming addicted to nicotine.
• Experiencing nicotine side effects or nicotine poisoning.
• Being exposed to dangerous chemicals.
• Increasing the risk of health problems for you or your baby, if you are pregnant.
• Being more likely to use other addictive …show more content…
substances.
WHAT STEPS CAN I TAKE TO STOP VAPING?
If you can stop vaping on your own, do so before you become addicted to nicotine. If you need help stopping, ask your health care provider. There are three effective ways to fight nicotine addiction:
• Nicotine replacement therapy. Using nicotine gum or a nicotine patch blocks your craving for nicotine. Over time, you can reduce the amount of nicotine until you can stop using it all together without having cravings.
• Prescription medicines approved to fight nicotine addiction. These medicines stop nicotine cravings or block the effects of nicotine.
• Behavioral therapy. This may include a self-help smoking cessation program, individual or group therapy, or a smoking cessation support group.
WHERE CAN I GET SUPPORT?
• U.S. National Library of Medicine: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007440.htm
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: https://smokefree.gov
• American Lung Association: http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/i-want-to-quit/how-to-quit-smoking.html
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Learn more about e-cigarettes from:
• U.S. National Institutes of Health:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/electronic-cigarettes-e-cigarettes
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: http://betobaccofree.hhs.gov/about-tobacco/Electronic-Cigarettes
REMEMBER:
• E-cigarettes can cause nicotine addiction.
• E-cigarettes are not approved as a way to stop smoking.
• E-cigarettes are not a risk-free alternative to smoking tobacco.
• There are ways to fight nicotine addiction.
• Talk to your health care provider if you are unable to stop vaping on your own.
ExitCare® Patient Information ©2012 ExitCare, LLC.
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-operated devices that deliver nicotine to your body. They may come in the shape of a cigarette, pipe, pen, or even USB memory sticks. E-cigarettes have a cartridge that contains a liquid form of nicotine. When you use the device, the battery heats the liquid. The liquid then becomes a vapor that you inhale. This is called vaping.
While e-cigarettes do not contain the same tar and cancer-causing chemicals that are in tobacco cigarettes, they may contain other harmful and cancer-causing chemicals, such as formaldehyde or acetaldehyde. Nicotine is also thought to increase your risk for certain types of cancer. Many e-cigarettes have chemical colorings …show more content…
and flavorings. It is not clear how much nicotine you get when vaping. The health effects of vaping also are not completely known.
Some people may use e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking tobacco. However, this has not been proven to work, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved e-cigarettes for this purpose.
HOW CAN USING ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AFFECT ME?
• E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive drug. Vaping may make you crave nicotine. Nicotine:
○ Causes increased heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate and changes in blood sugar levels.
○ Increases your risk of developing blood clots (hypercoaguable state) and diabetes.
• If you smoke e-cigarettes, you may be more likely to start smoking or to smoke more tobacco cigarettes.
• Becoming addicted to nicotine may make your brain more sensitive to other addictive drugs. You may move from vaping to other addictive substances.
• If you are pregnant, the nicotine in e-cigarettes may be harmful to your baby. Nicotine can cause brain or lung problems for your baby. Your baby may be born too early or with a low birth weight.
• If you are a child or a teen, vaping may affect your memory or lower your attention span.
• You may be in danger of overdosing on nicotine. Nicotine poisoning can cause nausea, vomiting, seizures, and trouble breathing.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF STOPPING VAPING?
If you stop vaping, you can avoid:
• Becoming addicted to nicotine.
• Experiencing nicotine side effects or nicotine poisoning.
• Being exposed to dangerous chemicals.
• Increasing the risk of health problems for you or your baby, if you are pregnant.
• Being more likely to use other addictive …show more content…
substances.
WHAT STEPS CAN I TAKE TO STOP VAPING?
If you can stop vaping on your own, do so before you become addicted to nicotine. If you need help stopping, ask your health care provider. There are three effective ways to fight nicotine addiction:
• Nicotine replacement therapy. Using nicotine gum or a nicotine patch blocks your craving for nicotine. Over time, you can reduce the amount of nicotine until you can stop using it all together without having cravings.
• Prescription medicines approved to fight nicotine addiction. These medicines stop nicotine cravings or block the effects of nicotine.
• Behavioral therapy. This may include a self-help smoking cessation program, individual or group therapy, or a smoking cessation support group.
WHERE CAN I GET SUPPORT?
• U.S. National Library of Medicine: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007440.htm
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: https://smokefree.gov
• American Lung Association: http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/i-want-to-quit/how-to-quit-smoking.html
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Learn more about e-cigarettes from:
• U.S. National Institutes of Health:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/electronic-cigarettes-e-cigarettes
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: http://betobaccofree.hhs.gov/about-tobacco/Electronic-Cigarettes
REMEMBER:
• E-cigarettes can cause nicotine addiction.
• E-cigarettes are not approved as a way to stop smoking.
• E-cigarettes are not a risk-free alternative to smoking tobacco.
• There are ways to fight nicotine addiction.
• Talk to your health care provider if you are unable to stop vaping on your own.
ExitCare® Patient Information ©2012 ExitCare, LLC.