Electronic cigarettes

[El Pibe]

Got them to help la piba give up, but genuinely considering taking up vaping for a habit.

Are there any downsides to this marvel of nature?

[????]

Unproven medically

Replacing one addiction with another

....what happened to good old willpower :)

[Otta]

I want to get one so that I can enjoy gigs agaib.

[El Pibe]

I gave up smoking over 20 years ago.

It seems to me that if someone can't give up cigarettes then not giving up but changing the deliver mechanism from cancerous tar laden smoke to water vapour seems like a win win.

I was just pondering on taking up the habit.

[Saffron]

Nicotine in any form can raise blood pressure, cause anxiety, addiction, withdrawal, and mood swings. It can interact with other drugs and medications. Your body still has to metabolise and excrete it, so it increases metabolic work load.

And plenty of other people don't want to breathe secondhand 'vape' any more than secondhand smoke, leading many restaurants, galleries, and institutions to ban their indoor use the same as smokes.

[maxxi]

Saffron Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> And plenty of other people don't want to breathe

> secondhand 'vape' any more than secondhand smoke,

> leading many restaurants, galleries, and

> institutions to ban their indoor use the same as

> smokes.

If you try to ban it and e-fag users turn on you, will you be subjected to an attack of the vapers?

[StraferJack]

If this is a mid life crisis thing, aim higher than bleedin faux fags

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Had a drink with GP friend this afternoon - she reckons they're carcinogenic.

I tried one once, it tasted disgusting.

Why don't you take up obscenely expensive cigars and just have one a month?

[Cathy migan]

I agree, just go cold turkey on the cigs. The electronic ones only keep the idea of smoking as a constant focus so are just a substitute. They still look horrible too.

[Mick Mac]

At a party last night they were quite popular, but those using them ultimately sneaked outside with the smokers later, no doubt for the real thing.

[El Pibe]

She's oinly successfully given up twice, one per child, but ultimately went back on to them a year or so later.

Willpower is a non starter with her, patches and gum also failed.

Of course I'm not really thinking about taking it up I was just after the negatives of this approach as I bought her the e-cigs.

I'd be very interested as to why GP friend thinks they're carcinogenic as as far as im aware nicotine isn't and nor are theatrical smoke machines, but if it's the case then it seems to go against the whole reason for giving up.

Perosnally I find them innoffensive the vape smell doesn't linger, I think they're being banned necause people react emotionally to seeing it nowadays and they're avoiding rows.

I did try it though just to see, it tasted pretty grotty and I actually fouind the nicotene rush really unpleasant, it had been a a while after all!!

[steveo]

The morning after is very similar to a regular fag experience.

Right at this moment i have a Bob Fleming cough and a small amount of self loathing

[Jah Lush]

Your Xmas rent boy experience out of the bag then.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I have no idea - we were several drinks down at the time. When I next see her I will ask.

[Saffron]

El Pibe Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> She's oinly successfully given up twice, one per

> child, but ultimately went back on to them a year

> or so later.

> Willpower is a non starter with her, patches and

> gum also failed.

>

> Of course I'm not really thinking about taking it

> up I was just after the negatives of this approach

> as I bought her the e-cigs.

>

> I'd be very interested as to why GP friend thinks

> they're carcinogenic as as far as im aware

> nicotine isn't and nor are theatrical smoke

> machines, but if it's the case then it seems to go

> against the whole reason for giving up.

>

I can't speak for the GP in question of course, but I would hazard a guess that it's due to the other chemicals added to 'pure' nicotine or derived from tobacco itself, for which e-cig companies astoundingly are not bound by full disclosure because their product is neither food nor medicine.

In addition, the long term use of inhaled 'pure' nicotine is a relatively unresearched area of medicine because nicotine delivery systems invariably involve other compounds, eg preservative, surfactants etc.

Whether e-cigs are safer than smoking is a relative comparison, which would have to take into account the exact ingredients of each per person, per usage, and also factor in whether e-cig usage resulted in an overall net increase or decrease of each chemical, and how these chemicals interacted with each other once in the lung.

"There is no scientific evidence that e-cigarettes are a safe substitute for traditional cigarettes or an effective smoking cessation tool," said Russ Sciandra, American Cancer Society New York State Director of Advocacy. "In fact, they may entice young people into trying traditional cigarettes. We also have questions about the safety of these devices. In lab tests, the FDA found some samples contain carcinogens and other toxic chemicals. Using e-cigarettes can be like trading one deadly behavior for another."

http://www.cancer.org/myacs/eastern/areahighlights/cancernynj-news-ny-ecig-health-vote

Personally I've been really shocked and disgusted to see e-cig adverts now popping up in places where cigarette adverts are banned, cue glamorous looking woman with e-cig in her hand sitting on faux oversized champagne glass billboard. Looks just like a cigarette, and gets around most of the smoking legislation... brilliant marking move. And sickening, literally.

[Dopamine1979]

Very interesting points Saffron. The Big Tobacco companies have certainly pounced on this new market with glee.

[El Pibe]

It seems to me that regulation, and continued testing then would be the most desirable thing.

From what I've read some of the alarmism comes from spot testing on some brands which found that a more dangerous compund than the usual propylene glycol had been used, but that even those from more reputable manufacturers there were still trace elements of harmful toxins found.

But these were far fewer in number and amount (by several orders of magnitude) than tabacco cigarettes.

I do think it's the aesthetics of it which lead to levels of emotion and polarisation around the debate, you just don't get from gum, though chewing gum, now that's a REALLY dirty habit ;)

Well, I guess my advice would be, lets hope it helps in the short term but use it to wean yourself rather than a long term replacement.

Plus, as we know from the Mail, everything kills you, I'm not about to give up booze just because I know its bad for me.

[Otta]

When these first came out, they were very expensive. Now you see cheapo ones on every counter of every corner shop and off license. If I was going to buy one (which I think I will), I would go for a more "top end" one.

[Jah Lush]

I think they are horrible but if it helps people to quit then I don't have a problem with that.

[bagpuss78]

Otta, I have one you can have.....I hardly used it and I have loads of refills and everyting

[El Pibe]

cripes, hello bagpuss, how's the sea air? :)

[bagpuss78]

http://www.skycig.co.uk/kits/freedom it's this but I only paid ?20 for it, yours for free

[bagpuss78]

I'm back in the old smoke...too much fresh air :)

[bob]

How are you BP78 it's been a while.

Bob S

[bagpuss78]

I'm good, I've been living by the seaside for a couple of years, but missed my mum too much :)