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*2024 Update - Check out our new range of E-Cigarettes, the Vape POD!
If you want to stop smoking but aren’t sure how, or maybe you’ve tried and failed, then e-cigarettes may be the best option for you. New evidence indicates that E-Cigarettes could be up to twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapy products such as nicotine patches and nicotine gum.
HOW CAN I USE E-CIGARETTES TO STOP SMOKING?
Smoking is a habit, not just because of the addictive nicotine, but the act itself. Our brain associates all the things happening together when we smoke - the nicotine stimulates us and our body wants to repeat the reward response, and this is how a habit is formed (1). It's just a shame that habit is smoking!
Whether it's when you are having a drink at the end of the day, or with your first coffee in the morning, smoking is part of our daily routine for smokers. Because of this routine constantly reminding you about smoking, it can be extremely difficult to quit. Every day when you have that first coffee your body expects to have the nicotine as well.
When smokers try and quit, most forget about the physical habit and focus on the nicotine. By using an e-cig you cover all your bases, you give your body the nicotine it craves while also keeping to the physical habit you have built up over the years. Now, there is one important difference between smoking and vaping - and that is the choice of flavours!
Finding a flavour you want to vape can really make vaping an appealing choice over smoking. The reality is that the additives in tobacco increase what is called the 'bioavailability' of nicotine (2) - this is how much of it is readily taken up by the body. This results in a super nicotine hit that is hard to replicate any other way. As E-Cigarettes don't have these additives, the nicotine hit isn't as strong as a tobacco cigarette.
Unless you want to be a dual-user (someone who vapes and smokes) or use multiple forms of nicotine replacement together (eeek!) enjoying the flavour is likely to bridge the gap between the reduced satisfaction from a lesser nicotine hit when vaping (3).
There are many other options on the market for smokers looking to quit, and some may be more tailored to your needs. The other options - patches, gums, lozenges, inhalator or even nicotine pouches - are all used very differently to a tobacco cigarette. This means that these other forms of nicotine delivery are unlikely to help with the habit of the action of smoking.
ARE E-CIGARETTES HARMFUL?
E-liquid does contain nicotine and is added to satisfy the cravings of smokers. However the danger of cigarettes isn't from the nicotine, it's all the other chemicals that really harm you. In a single cigarette there are over 4000 chemicals and 50 carcinogens, which are the real culprits for causing cancer (4).
Chemicals such as Arsenic, Formaldehyde and more cause a huge amount of damage to the smoker every day, and none of these chemicals are in e-cigarettes.
SMOKO E-cigarettes only contain 4 ingredients, all of which have been tested and proven to be safe for human consumption.
WHAT ABOUT THE NEGATIVE STORIES ABOUT VAPING?
You may have read the headlines declaring that e-cigarettes are as bad or worse than smoking, right next to headlines saying that e-cigarettes are great. It can be difficult to tell what is going on, especially as the media can't seem to decide either.
The good news is that e-cigarettes are at least 95% less harmful than cigarettes (5)! This is according to Public Health England, which is the government body which studies large scale health issues for the UK. The NHS also suggests e-cigarettes as a better alternative to smoking, with some hospitals in the UK opening vape shops on site.
So why do the media keep saying e-cigarettes are bad if they are so much better than cigarettes?
It comes down to where the e-cigarettes and the e-liquids are coming from. Since 2016 when regulations came in, UK made e-liquids have to be tested and quality controlled before they are allowed to be sold. The amount of nicotine is controlled and all the e-liquid has to be lab tested to make sure there is nothing in there that can harm you.
If you get your e-cigarette or e-liquid from a reputable source then, you can be sure that they only contain the 4 ingredients needed. If you buy from the local market stall, then it is not quite so certain.
And this is what happened in America. Due to very lax regulations on e-liquids the black and grey market exploded, and the US e-cigarette market was flooded with cheap and homemade e-liquid. Sadly some of these homemade liquids had dangerous chemicals in, and caused a huge amount of damage. This, along with questionable marketing tactics that targeted children, led to the FDA banning all flavour E-Cigarettes apart from tobacco and menthol flavours! (6)
If you are at all worried about what is in your e-cigarette, make sure that you buy from a UK made source and you can be sure that it has been tested and approved!
SO WHAT'S THE BEST E-CIG STARTER KIT FOR ME?
Our SMOKO e-cigarette starter kits are ideal for smokers starting out of the smoke-free journey. With pre-filled refills there is no messy refilling of a tank, just screw a refill onto the battery. Once you have finished with the refills take it off and put a new one on.
We designed our e-cigarette to be as simple and cigarette like as possible, so making the switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes as easy as possible. The new SMOKO VAPE POD is just as easy to use and contains our great tasting liquids!
We proudly make all our e-liquids in the UK, and have been for over 8 years. We make sure that all our e-liquids are tested above and beyond current laws so you can be sure of what you are vaping. Make the switch with SMOKO today!
*2022 Update - You can now try the SMOKO E-Cigarette for FREE when you purchase one box of E-Cigarette refills!
REFERENCES
(1) Making health habitual: the psychology of 'habit-formation' and general practice
(3) The role of flavors in vaping initiation and satisfaction among U.S. adults
(5) E-Cigarettes around 95% less harmful than tobacco estimates landmark review
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Written by Jonny Shaw
Jonny Shaw – Is a former smoker of 7 years before becoming a client of SMOKO E-Cigarettes. He started working with SMOKO 10 years ago after successfully quitting with our cigalike and now heads up our Customer Service. Jonny helps countless people every day to find the right solutions to quit smoking cigarettes using our range of vape and electronic cigarette products.
