What Are E-cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco?
Electronic cigarettes are also called e-cigarettes, vape pens, or vapor cigarettes. These devices resemble pens, cigarettes, and USB flash drives. They can be charged or battery-operated.
An e-cigarette has cartridges filled with liquid containing nicotine, flavoring, tetrahydrocannabinol or cannabinoid, and other chemicals. E-cigarettes heat the chemical liquid into steam or vapor that a person inhales which is often called vaping. There are three types of e-cigarettes, namely disposable e-cigarettes, rechargeable e-cigarettes, and pen-style e-cigarettes.
Smokeless tobacco is made up of a blend of tobacco or entirely tobacco products. It is usually placed between the cheek and the mouth by an individual.
They are mainly of the following types:
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Chewing Tobacco: It is present in the form of loose leaves pressed together, commonly called plugs, and leaves twisted together to form a rope, commonly called a twist.
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Snus: Originated from Sweden and was manufactured in a moist tobacco pouch. It is usually placed inside the cheek.
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Snuff: It is present in dry or moist form and is finely ground tobacco. It is also available in the form of ready-to-use pouches. The placement is usually gum and lip or cheek. It contains 28 cancer-causing agents.
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Dissolvable Tobacco: It is compressed powdered tobacco in the form of small, hard candy that dissolves in the mouth itself.
What Are Health Risks Associated With E-cigarettes?
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Lung Disease and Cancer Development: These are common due to the presence of harmful chemicals. E-cigarettes cause irritation in the lungs which leads to bronchitis. Vaping-related lung injury that includes fever, cough, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, and chest pain is also associated with the consumption of e-cigarettes.
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Nicotine: It has a negative effect on brain development and is highly addictive in nature.
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Lung Injuries: Associated with symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, or cough.
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Diabetes: Smoking causes type 2 diabetes which is fatal in nature.
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Vapor Inhalation: There can be harmful effects of vapor inhalation from the e-cigarette to other people and this is known as secondhand exposure. There is also the risk of explosion harm from devices used in e-cigarettes.
What Are Health Risks Associated With Smokeless Tobacco Products?
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Heart Disease: Characterized by increased heart rate and blood pressure due to consumption of smokeless tobacco. Consumption of smokeless products with repeated nicotine exposure contributes to hypertension, stroke, accelerated coronary disease, and fatal heart attack.
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Cancer: May involve the mouth, throat, tongue, lips, esophagus (the tube through which the food passes from mouth to stomach), and chin due to increased consumption of smokeless tobacco products.
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Addiction: Occurs due to the consumption of smokeless tobacco products that contain nicotine.
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Cavities: Occurs due to an increased amount of sugar present in smokeless tobacco that has the potential to cause dental caries.
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Gum Disease: Occurs due to the presence of harmful constituents present in smokeless tobacco products.
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Precancerous Mouth Lesion: It is seen in the form of white patches associated with the placement of smokeless tobacco into the oral cavity. For example, leukoplakia (white patch inside the mouth).
How Does Tobacco Damage the Human Body?
Tobacco contains various harmful chemicals that damage the body in many ways:-
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Nicotine: It is responsible for narrowing the vein and artery of the heart, which causes heart damage. It slows the blood supply, which leads to a reduction of oxygen to the hands and feet.
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Carbon Monoxide: It restricts the amount of oxygen required by the heart to pump blood within the body.
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Tar: It is present in tobacco that coats the lungs with a sticky compound.
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Ammonia and Formaldehyde: These are responsible for causing irritation in the eyes, throat, and nose.
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Cancer-Causing Chemicals: It makes the cells grow rapidly and abnormally.
Why Do People Become Addicted to E-cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco?
Tobacco contains nicotine which is highly addictive in nature. It makes the brain release a chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine makes the person happy and excited. It helps to concentrate on work and provides energy. As the level of dopamine decreases, the brain craves more dopamine, and the person becomes dependent on it. In case the person becomes dependent on nicotine-based products, the absence of these may lead to withdrawal syndrome.
What Is the Difference Between E-cigarettes and Traditional Cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are battery-driven and require devices, whereas no device is required for smoking normal cigarettes. E-cigarettes are considered safer than traditional cigarettes. An e-cigarette is more popular among teenagers.
How to Quit E-cigarette and Smokeless Tobacco?
Methods to quit e-cigarette and smokeless tobacco are :
1. Adopting nicotine replacement therapy. For example, nicotine patches, lozenges, and gums.
2. Avoid parties and bars with loaded smoking equipment.
3. At times of intense cravings, the distraction of the mind can be done, and the habit can be thought to be delayed for initial ten minutes.
4. Physical exercise is necessary to stay fit and divert the mind from smoking.
5. The benefits of quitting smoking will provide a healthier lifestyle and money-saving.
6. Counseling of patients can be done depending on the 5As that involve ask, advice, asses, assist, and arrange.
- Ask the person about their smoking status.
- Advise the person on cessation of tobacco benefits.
- Assess the person and motivation to quit by the willingness of the patient.
- Assist is to stop attempts to smoke again.
- Arrange is the follow-up and scheduled appointments.
Conclusion:
Multiple studies show that e-cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco consumption have increased in the past few decades among the younger population. A regular smoking habit has multiple implications: it reduces the quality and expectancy of life, increases the risk of health diseases, hurts mental and physical health, and is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, panic attacks, schizophrenia, and suicide attempts. Moreover, potentially cancer-causing chemicals like nitrosamines and reactive carbonyls are also present in these products. This poses a magnified health risk of heart and lung infections for non-smokers, especially those already suffering from previous health issues. Habit cessation and rehabilitation community centers must be opened in all remote areas to educate and assist the public in quitting the habit.
