Are E-Cigarettes Really a Healthier Alternative to Cigarettes? Experts Warn Against Underestimating the Health Risks, Including Respiratory Irritation, Allergic Reactions, and Potential Addiction, as Well as Disposal Problems and an Unknown Long-Term Cancer Risk, Making E-Cigarettes Only Recommended as a Last Resort for Heavy Smokers According to Experts. Measures to Reduce Consumption Among Young People Include Education, Regulation, and Promotion of Nicotine-Free Alternatives.

2023-04-30 07:18:00

E-cigarettes have established themselves as a healthier alternative to cigarettes. However, experts question the health benefits.

Instead of the conventional cigarette, many smokers prefer the e-version because they assume it is healthier. – Pexels

the essentials in brief

• E-cigarettes can also cause respiratory irritation and allergic reactions.
• Due to the nicotine contained, the potential for addiction remains.
• Disposable e-cigarettes in particular also cause a waste problem.

The market for novel tobacco and nicotine products, such as electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches, has skyrocketed in recent years.

More and more smokers are switching from conventional cigarettes to these alternatives. But are they really less harmful than traditional cigarettes? Experts warn against underestimating the health risks of these products.

Disposable e-cigarettes: Popular with young people, but bad for the environment

Disposable e-cigarettes are particularly popular with young people. They come in colorful designs and are said to be less harmful to health than conventional cigarettes.

However, they also harbor the risk of addiction. In addition, they are not only harmful to the health of consumers, but also mean a lot of waste for the environment.

In recent years, refillable e-cigarette models have dominated the market, but now there is a boom in disposable e-cigarettes. The damage to the environment often remains in the background.

Health risks of e-cigarettes

Despite the decline in classic cigarette consumption among young people, many are looking for alternative nicotine products such as e-cigarettes. However, experts warn against underestimating the health risks of e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes can have health consequences. – Pexels

Because e-cigarettes still contain nicotine: Even if the consumption of e-cigarettes is associated with a lower intake of harmful substances, the potential for addiction remains due to the nicotine they contain.

E-cigarettes can cause respiratory irritation and allergic reactions just like traditional cigarettes.

Since e-cigarettes have only been on the market for a few years, there are still no studies on the long-term health effects of vaping. Therefore, the question of a possibly increased risk of cancer remains unanswered.

Disposable vapes: Disposal becomes a problem

Another problem with disposable e-cigarettes is their disposal. The slim devices are loaded with around 600 puffs and are then simply thrown away – which means an enormous amount of waste.

They are not only a health problem, but also an environmental problem.

Expert recommendation: Only last resort for heavy smokers

According to Polish medical professor Andrzej Fal, novel tobacco and nicotine products should only be recommended to heavy smokers who have tried everything else and are still smoking traditional cigarettes.

Smoking is harmful to health. – Unsplash

For this group of people, e-cigarettes could serve as harm reduction products. For everyone else, the focus should remain on giving up nicotine products entirely.

Measures to prevent e-cigarette use

In order to reduce the consumption of e-cigarettes – especially among young people – the following preventive measures should be taken:

Education about health risks: Young people should be informed about the health risks of e-cigarettes in order to counteract trivialization.

Regulation of the market: Stricter regulation and control can drive single-use e-cigarettes out of the market to reduce environmental pollution and health risks.

Promotion of nicotine-free alternatives: Instead of e-cigarettes, the focus should be on nicotine-free alternatives to enable a healthier lifestyle without the potential for addiction.

Overall, it is important to be aware of the health risks of e-cigarettes and to keep use to a minimum. Eliminating nicotine products entirely remains the healthiest goal.