ARE E-CIGARETTES JUST AS UNHEALTHY AS SMOKING?

A new option for giving up, or a whole new set of risks? Dr Philippa advises

QI have been a smoker for 20 years and have tried everything to give up, but I just can’t. I was thinking about trying to vape but my wife says that is unhealthy too. Which is the better option here for my health?

ASmoking is an addiction to nicotine. It is real and extremely difficult to give up. I commend you for having tried so many times over the years. It is possible to give up. There are various medications which your doctor or practice nurse may be able to prescribe you, such as oral medications or nicotine replacement therapy, along with suppor t to help you stop.

We all know that it is impor tant to either not star t smoking or tr y to stop. However long you have been smoking for, smoking has a negative impact on your cardiovascular health, increasing your risk of hear t attacks and strokes. It af fects your lungs causing conditions such as emphysema and increases your risk of lots of different types of cancer, not just lung cancer.

The question you ask is whether or not vaping is a safer option, and it definitely is. Your wife is correct in that it is not a completely safe option, but

Everything in medicine is a balance between the risks and benefits

vaping, or e-cigarettes involve inhaling vaporised nicotine, without the tar and other cancer-causing chemical chemicals which are found in cigarettes.

So it has far fewer risks than smoking traditional cigarettes – though I would not advise someone who didn’t smoke to star t vaping as a health habit!

Ever ything in medicine is a balance between risks and benefits, from having a blood test to sticking on a plaster. And in the case of cigarettes vs e-cigarettes, e-cigarettes are definitely the better option.

As they contain nicotine they don’t lead to nicotine withdrawal. You could star t by switching, and then when you are ready, gradually stop altogether.