The smoking alternative that could land you in a cancer ward

Looks like all those theories about electronic cigarettes being safe just went up in smoke. (I know, I crack myself up…)

You can’t walk into a convenience store these days without seeing a wall of e-cigarettes. And since they first hit the market, we’ve been promised that these battery-powered nicotine dispensers were a safe alternative to smoking.

But now researchers are finally peeling back the curtain on what’s really inside these e-cigarettes that are being sold by the millions — and used by kids who want to look cool.

And they’re warning that every puff could put you on the fast track to incurable lung disease — and maybe even cancer.

Smoke and mirrorsSmoking electronic cigarettes — or “vaping” — has become the biggest fad since the hula hoop and swallowing goldfish.

And if you ever have to choose between putting a goldfish or an e-cigarette in your mouth, take the fish every time.

You see, these electronic smokes hit the market before we knew too much about them. Manufacturers were even claiming they were little more than water vapor with a little flavoring thrown in.

But, as it turns out, that’s total nonsense.

The science is finally starting to catch up with e-cigarettes, and we’re learning they’re about as safe as juggling hand grenades — and maybe just as explosive (more on that in a second).

In just the past few months, we’ve found out that e-cigarettes:

• Can cause “popcorn lung”: That’s the name given to a condition first found in workers in a microwave popcorn plant. Your lungs become irreversibly scarred and you end up feeling like you’re breathing through a cocktail straw. Popcorn lung is caused by the chemical diacetyl, which you’ll find in dozens of e-cig flavors.
• Use industrial toxins: The main liquid in e-cigarettes is called propylene glycol. It’s often used as a food additive, but inhaling it is a whole different story. Factories make workers wear masks so they don’t breathe in the stuff, because it’s been linked to nervous system problems and spleen damage.
• Are packed with cancer-causing additives: Other toxic chemicals in e-cigarettes include diethylene glycol, an ingredient in antifreeze, and formaldehyde — that cancer-causing junk used in embalming fluids.
• Can blow up in your face — literally: You’ve probably read about these combustible devices turning into handheld bombs and exploding while people were vaping. One recently exploded with such force that it broke a man’s neck.

And here’s something else to consider: the source.

More and more those brands of e-cigs are being made by none other than Big Tobacco. You didn’t think they were going to let this new way to make money off of smokers pass them by, did you?

Even a Newsweek cover photo from last year showed the Marlboro Man with a glowing e-cig in his mouth, along with the caption, “Big Tobacco is back.”

The bottom line is that there isn’t a shred of evidence that these cigarette substitutes are a safe alternative to smoking. And there’s no proof that they can make you smoke less either, which is the whole reason most people try vaping to begin with. In fact, there is a lot of evidence that people are vaping far more than they ever smoked since there’s no way of really counting. Most people could tell you how many cigarettes — or packs — they smoke a day. How do you count vapes?

Now that doesn’t mean you should give up trying to quit cigarettes. As I’ve told you before, I stopped smoking years ago — and it was the healthiest decision I’ve made in my life.

You certainly don’t need me to lecture you on quitting smoking. I’m sure you’ve heard it enough from your family, friends and your doctor.

But when you decide you’re ready, there are some simple strategies that can give you the upper hand without increasing your risk, like:

• Steering clear of “habit triggers”: Lots of us light up without thinking about it when sitting at a traffic light at the corner of State and Main or when we walk out to lunch. Changing your routine can help avoid those habit triggers.
• Upping your exercise routine: A study out of England a few years back proved that regular exercise can actually reduce nicotine cravings. It can also help you reduce stress.
• Giving acupuncture a try: Acupuncture has been shown to be a very effective tool for reducing your desire for tobacco. Plus, it can help trigger your brain to pump out endorphins — those same feel-good hormones that smoking helps produce.

Sources:
“Where we stand now: E-cigarettes” Sandee LaMotte, December 31, 2015, CNN, cnn.com