Can E-Cigarettes Help You Quit Smoking?

It’s one of the most popular habits around; and one of the more dangerous. Smoking was once regarded as the sociological norm, but it was clear to specialists that tobacco can cause long-term health conditions as medicine advanced.

Smoking is kind of like Marmite; you either love it or hate it. While many smokers rely on their regular nicotine hits, non-smokers find the smell unbearable. Both cancer and COPD are linked to smoking tobacco, and consumers are turning to e-cigarettes to help them kick the habit.

Can e-cigarettes help you quit smoking? Or is it more of a state of mind? In this post, we’ll answer those very questions.

What Are Electronic Cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes were designed with the primary purpose of providing people with the taste of tobacco and a hit of nicotine - without the adverse effects. The nicotine-infused liquid heats up, so you breathe in a vapour instead of smoke.

The primary issue with tobacco is the toxic gases it releases when heated. Inhaling tar and carbon monoxide means you’re more susceptible to respiratory conditions, heart problems and lung cancer.

While you can choose traditional tobacco flavours, there are also fruit, cream and a range of other flavours for people to try.

You can choose different strengths of e-liquid, meaning heavy smokers can get the amount of nicotine they need to function. In contrast, lighter smokers can start on a lower level and gradually wean themselves off nicotine.

The Different Types of E-Cigarettes

E-cigarettes come in many forms, and the one you choose will define your experience.

Vape Pens: Ideal as a starter vaping kit, these electronic devices are compact, shaped like a pen and easy to carry around.

Cigalikes: One of the earliest electronic cigarettes, cigalikes look like the real thing but are often disposable.

Mods: Designed for serious vapers, mods are larger and can handle higher levels of heat.

Pods: Pods are popular with younger people because they’re cheap to buy and easily replaceable. Instead of using a bottle of e-liquid, pods use cartridge refills.

Are E-Cigarettes Safe to Use?

There are many conflicting opinions about e-cigarettes and whether they’re a safe alternative to smoking. The UK has strict regulations surrounding the manufacture of e-liquids and devices, so as long as you purchase your quit smoking starter kits from a reputable provider, you won’t have any issues.

Cigarettes produce excessive amounts of harmful toxins, but e-cigarettes are significantly less dangerous. If you’re looking for a safe alternative, then any doctor will tell you that a vape kit is a lot safer than traditional cigarettes.

So, Can E-Cigarettes Help You to Quit Smoking?

For a smoker, kicking the habit is one of the most challenging things they’ll ever have to do. Similar to alcohol, you can walk into a supermarket and grab a pack of cigarettes - so a lot of smokers find they need something else to distract them.

Heading to your local stop smoking service will provide you with solutions such as nicotine patches, gum, lozenges and inhalers - but they don’t offer the same benefits as vape kits.

A New England Journal of Medicine study shows that people who quit smoking using e-cigarettes had more success than individuals using traditional nicotine patches and lozenges.

Let’s take a look at how e-cigarettes can help you to stop smoking.

It Provides You With a Nicotine Hit

Nicotine is an addictive substance, and while it’s relatively harmless, it’s one of the primary reasons people continue to smoke. E-liquid contains varying amounts of nicotine, and you can start with higher-level bottles, then gradually move down.

Doing this will help you to withdraw from nicotine without suffering from the withdrawal effects. High-level bottles can contain 20 mg of nicotine, which is ideal for heavy smokers. Light smokers can start at 6-12 mg, then work down to e-liquids with no nicotine.

It Replicates Smoking

One of the major aspects of smoking is bringing the cigarette to your mouth - and people often struggle with patches, gums or lozenges because they don’t replicate this action. Vape kits are similar to cigarettes because you inhale vapour and breathe it out.

For boredom smokers, vaping can provide more relief, and it’s a great way to avoid replacing smoking with another harmful habit. Overeating is common in ex-smokers, but using an e-cigarette means you can enjoy the same routine as with smoking - but without the adverse side effects!

E-Liquid Comes in a Range of Flavours

When it comes to nicotine gum and lozenges, you’ll usually have a choice of mint, fruit and cinnamon. But e-liquids are designed to replicate your favourite brand of tobacco. There are so many to choose between, including Virginia, amber, British and USA tobacco.

You can also take advantage of the unique mixtures, which often pair tobacco and chocolate or caramel to create a sweet-tasting e-liquid.

If tobacco isn’t your favourite thing, there is a range of weird and wonderful flavours available that replicate your favourite desserts, fruits and sweets.

Things to Think About

If you want to stop smoking completely, then e-cigarettes can be beneficial if you set out your goals and make a commitment to stick to them. For example, replacing cigarettes with electronic devices allows you to remove the harmful toxins - but you’ll still have the nicotine.

Some people find that they replace cigarettes with electronic devices, and that’s enough for them to enjoy a healthier and happier lifestyle. But if you want to remove nicotine from your life altogether, then it’s best to set out a plan to gradually decrease the amount in each bottle of liquid you buy.

As long as you know your goals, you’ll be able to move away from smoking and take advantage of the convenience e-cigarettes offer.

The common benefits include:

• Vaping doesn’t make your clothes smell
• There’s no risk of impacting the health of those around you
• Most manufacturers provide a range of flavours to choose from
• You’ll replace a bad habit with a much healthier one
• You can be in control of your stop smoking program.

Stay tuned for more tips on vaping and exclusive information about new products in our range.