True or False – Tobacco and electronic cigarette

Like every year, the month of January coincides with good resolutions! In 2021, you have decided to quit smoking and switch to electronic cigarettes. But do you really know what are the impacts of electronic cigarettes? Let’s go for a little True or False!

Reading time : 5 minutes 

Tobacco

Tobacco is the number one preventable risk factor for cancer : TRUE 

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death from cancer and before age 65. Tobacco is responsible for 90% of lung cancers but can be responsible in particular for cancers of the aerodigestive tract (mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus), bladder cancer or pancreatic cancer. Indeed, you should know that tobacco smoke contains 4000 chemicals including 70 carcinogens such as: benzene, arsenic, chromium, tars …

NB: Cigarettes with a lower content of nicotine and tar are no less carcinogenic than others.

-> It’s never too late to quit smoking.

Smoking does not represent a danger for others: FALSE.

Beyond the discomfort caused by the smoke, people around find themselves to be passive smokers.Passive smoking is the act of inhaling the smoke given off by one (or more) smokers.

The risks are certainly less important than in the active smoker, but the consequences for health are real!Passive smoking would worsen existing pathologies and increase the risk of lung cancer by 20 to 30% and the risk of heart disease by 25 to 30%.As for the electronic cigarette, “passive vaping” exists but is much less risky than passive smoking. (See below)

Nicotine is carcinogenic : FALSE 

Nicotine is harmless, harmless and not carcinogenic.On the other hand, it is responsible for the sensation of pleasure maintaining an addiction in the smoker.Nicotine is diffused very quickly in the respiratory tract which causes a cerebral boosting effect after 30 seconds.

Smoking during pregnancy exposes the baby to many disorders: TRUE.

The consumption of tobacco during pregnancy reduces the oxygenation of the fetus because the mother’s blood is loaded with carbon dioxide and nicotine prevents the good circulation of the blood.This can cause growth delays and neurological problems in the baby.

Smoking during pregnancy can also increase the risk of miscarriage, premature labor, or ectopic pregnancies – that is, the fetus does not implant in the right place.

If the pregnant woman is a passive smoker, chemicals in the cigarette smoke that she breathes pass into her blood and that of the child, which can cause growth delays, among other things.

Sport helps eliminate the toxic effects of cigarettes: FALSE.

Sport does not protect against the harmful effects of smoking. Sport has no positive impact on the lungs, it does not eliminate tar or all the toxic substances inhaled while smoking.

It should be noted that tobacco decreases sports performance because the muscles need oxygen and sugar, but when smoking, the circulation of oxygen in the body is limited.

⚠️ You should not smoke before, during, or immediately after strenuous exercise. By smoking directly after a workout, there is a risk of rapid vasoconstriction of the arteries: coronary spasm. The oxygen can no longer circulate, which causes a heart attack, which causes some sudden deaths.

On the other hand, performing regular physical activity helps to quit smoking. Engaging in an activity decreases the urge to smoke because exertion releases endorphin: a neurotransmitter that causes a feeling of relaxation and well-being.

Electronic cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes are as dangerous as tobacco: FALSE.

Indeed, unlike cigarette smoke, e-cigarette vapor does not contain carcinogens that can cause lung, throat or tongue cancer such as carbon monoxide, tar, and reduces very strongly residual toxicants. The electronic cigarette does not contain tobacco, does not burn, and does not create smoke. The smoker inhales vapor obtained by heating a liquid composed mainly of propylene glycol, glycerol, aroma and sometimes nicotine.

You should know that some e-cigarette liquids may contain or may lead to the production of potentially toxic substances such as metals and potentially carcinogenic compounds. That’s why you have to be careful when buying products.

Since 2016, the High Council of Public Health (HCSP) considers that the electronic cigarette can be considered as an aid to stop or reduce the consumption of tobacco. On the other hand, electronic cigarettes have not been shown to be harmless to health in the long term.

The electronic cigarette avoids nuisance for those around it: TRUE and FALSE.

Passive vaping is much less risky than passive smoking, but it does exist.Electronic cigarette smoke (which is vapor) is indeed much less harmful than tobacco smoke (by 95%) and almost all disappears in less than a minute (100 times faster than tobacco smoke).However, it contains components which can be toxic, especially for young children.We must therefore be vigilant!

The electronic cigarette is not recommended for pregnant women: TRUE.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), electronic cigarettes are not recommended for pregnant women because they could be a long-term danger to the fetus following exposure to nicotine.There would be consequences for the development of the brain.

Presently, we do not have enough studies demonstrating the safety of the components of e-cigarettes in the fetus.It would expose the unborn baby to unknown risks.

It is not recommended to vape if you are a non-smoker: TRUE.

There is even no interest.The electronic cigarette was created to help with smoking cessation and is intended for people wishing to stop or reduce their tobacco consumption.In addition, the e-cigarette can be addictive if used with nicotine.

So, did you have a perfect score?

To conclude, the e-cigarette can be a good alternative to stop or reduce your tobacco consumption. But still remain vigilant for those around you.

References :

https://www.cancer-environnement.fr/ 

https://www.who.int/tobacco/communications/statements/eletronic_cigarettes/fr/