E-Cigarettes Prove to Be an Effective Tool to Quit Smoking

A new major study’s results show that e-cigarettes may be a more effective tool to quit smoking than other options. In fact, the research indicated that they are almost twice as effective as nicotine patches and gum for breaking the habit.

The study was conducted by British researchers and the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This study’s results as a tool to quit smoking have arrived on the heels of news from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in which it indicated that it may temporarily ban e-cigarettes until they can prove themselves to be safe. The F.D.A. is facing substantial pressure to place these devices under stricter regulations as the teen vaping rate skyrockets.

Quit Smoking Tool vs. Teen Vaping

According to tobacco treatment expert Dr. Nancy Rigotti from Harvard Medical School – who was not involved in the study – doctors need much more information about e-cigarettes than they have. They want to be able to answer patient questions about how to quit smoking, but they don’t have the answers.

She pointed out that there is now promising evidence to “endorse cigarettes” when it comes to using them as a tool to quit smoking. Equally, she has joined other experts in the field in warning that there has yet to be an e-cigarette in any form that has been approved in the U.S. as a smoking cessation tool. Therefore, even with this promising study showing that the devices can help to quit smoking, they still haven’t been approved for that purpose.

Why Does Approval Matter?

While the study did show that e-cigarettes can help people to quit smoking, approval would take things to a different level. After all, not all devices are created equally. They have different features, materials and other factors to consider. Moreover, the cartridges used vary from one manufacturer and brand to another. Therefore, not all products will necessarily be as helpful to quit smoking in the same way as the study.

Furthermore, with approval, doctors will receive guidance with regards to the usage recommendations they would make to help patients quit smoking. Without guidance, doctors would not necessarily be able to recommend the ideal protocol for patients. Their patients may not use the devices as efficiently as was shown in the study.

Smoking is the number 1 cause of preventable death on the planet. Almost six million people die every year as a result of the direct or indirect use of tobacco products.

* This article is for informational purposes only and not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medications, supplements, diet, or exercise routine.