I’m proof vaping CAN save smokers’ lives

THE UK Science and Technology Select Committee is about to hold an inquiry into electronic cigarettes. For five years, I’ve been lobbying in their favour, with little success. The chairman asked if he could use my information as evidence and I happily agreed. I sense a wind of change which may cause MPs to legislate for the prescription of e-cigarettes by the NHS. This has the potential to improve, lengthen and even save lives — and cut the costs involved in treating smoking-related diseases. After smoking about a quarter of a million strong, unfiltered cigarettes over 69 years, I was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). My breathing rate was only 50 per cent of normal. Tragically, this disease had already caused the demise of my only son, Paul, at 47. As I was addicted to nicotine, in 2012, I traded tobacco for electronic cigarettes. As a retired research and development scientist, I arranged annual lung function tests at Pontesbury Health Centre, to monitor any improvement, and started researching the health implications of using e-cigs or ‘vaping’ as it’s termed. Opponents say e-cigs should be banned because the effects of inhaling the propylene glycol (PG) used as a carrier for nicotine are unknown. There are no research results available. It turns out that this chemical is an antiseptic which has been used in hospitals for years. During the five years of my research, my breathing rate improved from 50 to 88 per cent of normal and tests this year show it has stabilised at this figure. At 85, my breathing difficulties are a thing of the past. Ceasing using tobacco rather than using e-cigarettes caused this improvement in lung capacity. But the two most important factors I found were that e-cigarette use didn’t inhibit lung improvement, despite 69 years of abuse — and that it’s never too late to stop using tobacco.

TERRY WAlKER, pontesbury, Shrops.