E-cigarettes… not so harmless?
E-cigarettes… not so harmless?
Extrait
Are you under the impression that vaping is less harmful to your health than smoking a conventional cigarette?
Research conducted by Dr. Mahmoud Rouabhia at Université Laval found that vaping could increase the risk of fungal infections in the mouth, such as oral candidiasis, aka oral thrush.
To reach this conclusion, the researcher and his team observed how yeast and fungi in the mouth reacted when in contact with the vapour from an e-cigarette.
Results showed the rate of yeast and fungi levels:
- Increased by 60% when exposed to vapour with nicotine
- Doubled when exposed to vapour without nicotine
It appears that vapour provides an environment conducive to yeast and fungi growth that could be the source of the thrush.
Dr. Rouabhia hypothesized this phenomenon could also be explained by the sugars found in vape juices.
The jury is out…
For now, the scientific community has mixed opinions on the use of e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking conventional cigarettes.
A study conducted in New Zealand between 2011 and 2013 compared the effectiveness of various smoking cessation methods. Researchers concluded that an e-cigarette containing 16 mg of nicotine was not any more effective than a placebo or a nicotine patch containing 21 mg of nicotine.
Other studies show a certain degree of effectiveness in the quest to quit smoking. With this lack of scientific consensus, more research needs to be carried out.
In the meantime, keep in mind that e-cigarettes have been proven to increase the risk of certain cancers and heart disease.
In the face of such divided opinion, the World Health Organization recommended against vaping in 2014, in large part due to the risk of addiction among youth who are more likely to get hooked on this type of product.
Do you want to kick the habit?
Talk to a health care professional if you want to quit smoking once and for all.
