After many years to smoke cigarettes, It's been seven years since I stopped. Go out of the hell to go to the paradise
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General / Off-Topic Make vapour, not smoke (Info on smoking and vaping)
- Thread starter Dejay
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If you're interested in quitting go the doctor or cessation clinic and ask for champix (varenicline). Its not suitable for some people but its a wonder drug imo.
This is good advice. You should go to your doctor. Did you use varenicline?
Many people won't go to doctors though. One of the reasons why vaping (in my opinion) can be better to quit smoking is because 1. it doesn't have the medical flair but instead has it's own cool culture 2. You don't have to give up the sensation of smoking.
It's basically a psychological addiction or something fun to do (blowing clouds of vapor). And the whole community and culture around vaping and the various devices offer something to do. Especially if you start rebuilding your own atomizers or mix your own flavors. Instead of a self help group with depressing stories, shame and fallbacks, you gain a new hobby with shiny new toys and new fun things to do. It makes quitting cigarettes fun in a way.
Another thing is that NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) doesn't address the other addictive substances in cigarette smoke, like the MAOI's mentioned above (basically anti depressents). Maybe some do though, I don't know. Vaping doesn't address this either of course, and I heard out that others have had more problems switching to vaping and still sometimes have cravings for cigarettes. Maybe I'll find out, so far I have no desire to go back to cigarettes ever. In any case, Nicotine by itself isn't that addictive or dangerous, so quitting smoking is the first most important thing.
So you're right, stopping smoking completely is the best solution. But some people don't really want to quit, they just don't want to die from it
Champix is an anti-depressant, and I suspect that is why it works for some people. I'm very much in the boat of not wanting to give up smoking, but not wanting to die from it.
Another plus point for vaping is that the amount of nicotine in the liquid can be varied substantially, from very high (54mg or the 36mg that I use) down to zero. I know a couple of people who vape regularly, but the liquid has zero nicotine in it. They just enjoy the sensation, and are psychologically addicted to smoking.
Nicotine itself is, as you say, pretty harmless on its own. Caffeine is probably more dangerous as a drug. People don't die of nicotine addiction - it is the 4000 other nasties in cigarettes, not to mention all the tar etc that is the killer. Remove those - and you remove the dangers.
Another plus point for vaping is that the amount of nicotine in the liquid can be varied substantially, from very high (54mg or the 36mg that I use) down to zero. I know a couple of people who vape regularly, but the liquid has zero nicotine in it. They just enjoy the sensation, and are psychologically addicted to smoking.
Nicotine itself is, as you say, pretty harmless on its own. Caffeine is probably more dangerous as a drug. People don't die of nicotine addiction - it is the 4000 other nasties in cigarettes, not to mention all the tar etc that is the killer. Remove those - and you remove the dangers.
I gave up smoking when I was 16 but my wife switched from cigarettes to e-cigarettes just under a year ago. The persistent cough she had disappeared overnight and she's saving money too.
My biggest concern is that there seems to be a concerted effort to marginalise e-cigs. I get very annoyed by scare-mongering reports in the media because I fear it may push her back to the real thing. Whether the big tobacco companies are behind these reports I'm not sure, but there's definitely an agenda out there. More and more pubs are banning their use, based on no evidence whatsoever, because it "normalises smoking". Er, no. Cigarettes produce smoke, which lingers and is unpleasant. E-cigs produce vapour, which dissipates immediately. Nicotine is no more harmful than caffeine, which countless people slosh down their throat several times a day
but my wife switched from cigarettes to e-cigarettes just under a year ago. The persistent cough she had disappeared overnight and she's saving money too.My biggest concern is that there seems to be a concerted effort to marginalise e-cigs. I get very annoyed by scare-mongering reports in the media because I fear it may push her back to the real thing. Whether the big tobacco companies are behind these reports I'm not sure, but there's definitely an agenda out there. More and more pubs are banning their use, based on no evidence whatsoever, because it "normalises smoking". Er, no. Cigarettes produce smoke, which lingers and is unpleasant. E-cigs produce vapour, which dissipates immediately. Nicotine is no more harmful than caffeine, which countless people slosh down their throat several times a day
My biggest concern is that there seems to be a concerted effort to marginalise e-cigs. I get very annoyed by scare-mongering reports in the media because I fear it may push her back to the real thing. Whether the big tobacco companies are behind these reports I'm not sure, but there's definitely an agenda out there. More and more pubs are banning their use, based on no evidence whatsoever, because it "normalises smoking". Er, no. Cigarettes produce smoke, which lingers and is unpleasant. E-cigs produce vapour, which dissipates immediately. Nicotine is no more harmful than caffeine, which countless people slosh down their throat several times a day
Couldn't agree with you more.
It's interesting that it's not just the ultra right wing mob in the UK government that are perpetuating this (many of whom are also on the boards of tobacco companies) - it's also the EU itself where most of the "advice" is coming from.
I don't know if it has been referred to before, but this article on the BBC news website covers just about everything!It's interesting that it's not just the ultra right wing mob in the UK government that are perpetuating this (many of whom are also on the boards of tobacco companies) - it's also the EU itself where most of the "advice" is coming from.
Yeah the current sensationalist articles are really not based on science. It's good that the BBC did a sensible report. Of course we don't know long term effects but from I read there really is no reason to assume it's unhealthy, except for the effect of nicotine on blood pressure that is similar to caffeine.
I guess the reasons are just stupidity and business as usual: News media like sensationalist and righteous articles that sell advertising, tobacco lobby likes regulations to push out the innovative grass root competition, big pharma likes to sell their patches and gums (and nicotine inhalers that contain more stuff than eliquid lol!) and government are afraid of HUGE losses of tobacco tax. Lobbying should really be banned, or restricted to open letters.
The sad thing is that scientific opinion is pretty clear: You would save a lot of unnecessary deaths by endorsing vaping.
The Ultimate List of E-Cig Studies
Here are the few things I learned about that you might be weary of:
I guess the reasons are just stupidity and business as usual: News media like sensationalist and righteous articles that sell advertising, tobacco lobby likes regulations to push out the innovative grass root competition, big pharma likes to sell their patches and gums (and nicotine inhalers that contain more stuff than eliquid lol!) and government are afraid of HUGE losses of tobacco tax. Lobbying should really be banned, or restricted to open letters.
The sad thing is that scientific opinion is pretty clear: You would save a lot of unnecessary deaths by endorsing vaping.
The Ultimate List of E-Cig Studies
Here are the few things I learned about that you might be weary of:
- Older vanilla custard flavors might cause "popcorn lung" (lung scarring) but AFAIK the Diacetyl that causes this is no longer used by most liquid manufacturers (there might still be small trace amounts though)
- Some of the older / cheaper Chinese liquids or cheap nicotine can contain other chemicals that are bad. Some studies that claim that e-cigarettes are dangerous (older FDA study) used older / inferior equipment. This is of course why we should have sensible(!) regulations. If you want to save money, buy quality flavors and mix liquids yourself.
- Brass or chromed brass atomizers can contain lead. I think this is only relevant for cheap rebuildable clones. Stainless steel is best.
- You can have allergies to specific flavours. Or you might just have an allergy to eating the real thing, and not be allergic to the artificial flavour, but you still have an adverse reaction.
- You should drink enough since PG dries out your mouth / throat / nose. But not too much since over hydration is also not good (or drink something with electrolytes)
- Batteries can explode or burn when shorted or charged with the wrong charger. Use protected batteries or regulated mods and use the correct charger (happens with mobiles and laptops too). Don't put your charger on your nightstand or flammable surface.
- It's not necessary to lung inhale to absorb nicotine or enjoy the flavour. If you're in Ironman mode like me and want to be extra careful you might just avoid lung inhales.
- If you have kids, keep your liquids in a lockable box or somewhere out of reach, just like cleaning products or alcohol. Liquids smell good and nicotine is readily absorbed through the skin.
- If you want to quit smoking by switching to vaping, get a good e-cigarette because an unsatisfactory product might turn you away from vaping.