E-Cigarettes and Cigarettes: Both Equally Harmful

Technology and Electronics are leaving no stone unturned. They seem to have reached almost everywhere. e-shopping, e-Learning, e-commerce, e-Booking, e-Cigarettes. Yes! You read that right. e-cigarettes did enter our markets.

It is an electronic device that is used as a replacement of cigarettes. To speak more accurately, e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems, vaporizer cigarette and vape pens, all electronic in nature are used to simulates the experience of smoking a cigarette. It operates by heating a liquid, most usually flavored, to create aerosols, which is inhaled by the user. 

An e-cigarette is believed to aid those trying to quit smoking. This however might not be completely true. Studies state that the Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) can result to suicidal and accidental poisoning. Considering this, the government has banned e-cigarette and similar products like Vape, e-seesha, e-hookah, etc.

E-cigarettes are more prevalent among youngsters ranging from 18-24 years of age. Although there is no concrete evidence behind an e-cigarette being good or bad for human health, it is always best to be cautious. The fact that the device contains nicotine, which is highly addictive, is a major matter of concern.

Nicotine is known to cause cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, and also affects the immune and gastrointestinal system. Consuming low doses of Nicotine can lead to irritation to the eyes, abdominal pain, nausea associated with vomiting.  High doses result in high blood pressure, Tachycardia (a condition where the heart beats abnormally at a rapid rate), seizure (uncontrolled disturbances in the brain), coma and death.

Some studies also state that an e-cigarette does more harm than normal cigarettes and hookahs. The liquid loaded in the device is made up of various chemicals like nicotine, glycerol, propylene glycol and also flavoring substances. The chemicals when heated start breaking down leading to the formation of other chemicals like formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents that gradually start showing severe negative impacts on the human body. These chemicals are said to be carcinogenic in nature. What makes the e-cigarette more harmful is the application of electricity for heating the liquid.

Studies state that, after careful analysis, it was observed that e-cigarettes are 15 times higher in risk than normal cigarettes.

Not only are the chemicals in the device said to be cancer causing, but its use can also hamper the development of the brain. A brain takes 25 years of human life to completely develop and grow. While using e-cigarette can be an attempt to quit smoking, one should also think about the possible damage it can pose to the development of the brain.

Although there are many studies that show the ill effects an e-cigarette imposes on human health, concrete scientific evidences are still not available.                                                                                                                                                          

However, as a preventive measure, considering the several threats e-cigarettes can have on a human body, 36 countries across the world and 12 states in India have already banned the sale of e-cigarettes.