It’s been a tough couple of years for most of us around the world and, with 2021 coming to a close, there is still no end in sight to the Coronavirus pandemic. The work from home, restricted freedom, and huge reduction in leisure activity is likely to have impacted us all to some degree, resulting in increased stress. This is bad news for smokers and those trying to quit cigarettes - stress is one of the common triggers that ruins a quit attempt.
Luckily, today we have technology that can be of help: electronic cigarettes. This relatively new technology is proving to be a successful stop smoking aid, and it’s arrival couldn’t be more timely - smoking increases the risk for respiratory tract infections, and the coronavirus typically makes its way in through this route. This danger is increased in smokers, and this understanding has resulted in electronic cigarette starter kits helping thousands to stop smoking during the Covid-19 pandemic.
REASONS WHY SMOKERS ARE AT RISK OF RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND COVID 19
Why are smokers more at risk of respiratory infections and Covid-19? Tobacco smoke contains a lot of free radicals - highly reactive molecules - and these molecules damage the respiratory tract and the lining of the alveoli (air sacs in the lungs), increasing the risk of infection.
When it comes to COVID 19 specifically, smoking tobacco increases the number of ACE2 receptors on cells found in the airways, and it is this ACE2 receptor that the spike protein on the coronavirus uses to enter our cells.
TIPS TO STOP SMOKING
There are a multitude of tips and tricks you can try to help you stop smoking tobacco but you’ve got to know them, to use them!
Spend More Time In Green spaces - A study from the University of Plymouth, UK, found an association between living in areas with lots of green spaces and smoking cessation. There is a lot of evidence showing the positive impact of spending time in nature on our mental wellbeing, so help yourself by getting outside!
Do More Exercise - Regular exercise helps us deal with stress, sweats out toxins, reduces cravings and helps us drift off to sleep more easily. A must if your cravings keep you up at night.
Increase Hydration - Water is essential for us to function, but staying well hydrated means you have plenty of water for sweating and urinating: the main ways our body gets rid of toxins.
Use Technology Wisely - Tech is your friend! There are mobile apps that show you how much money you have saved, or the benefits your body is experiencing since quitting, and these reminders can help spur you on! There are social media groups and websites dedicated to quitting smoking where you can find tips from successful quitters, as well as support from a community that understands what you’re going through!
Seek Help From Medical professionals - These people are trained to help you, and can be found by seeking out your local stop smoking services. Whether it is prescribing a form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or offering behavioural support, they can present the options available to you and help you make a decision that is right for you. There is a lot of evidence that quit attempts are bolstered by the support offered by stop smoking services!
OFFICIAL GUIDANCE PUBLISHED BY THE UK GOVERNMENT
The UK government acknowledges that people who smoke cigarettes generally are at higher risk than non-smokers for respiratory infections, but there is currently mixed evidence on smokers and the risks of COVID-19. One study indicated that current smokers may have a reduced risk of COVID infection compared with never smokers, but that former smokers appear to be at higher risk of hospitalisation, severe symptoms and mortality. More clinical trials are needed to ascertain the validity of those results.
The UK government certainly recommends not sharing vaping devices or cigarettes to reduce the likelihood of transmission of coronavirus, and that quitting smoking brings immediate health benefits to your respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
THE INCREASE IN THE USAGE OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES
Very recently the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) announced they would be prescribing licenced e-cigarettes to help reduce smoking rates. This is huge news considering the misinformation that has sprung up around the question of whether vaping is safer than smoking. Whilst not entirely risk free, experts in the UK and USA have agreed that regulated e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking. It is no wonder that the number of people using e-cigarettes to quit smoking is on the rise, with 27.2% of smokers using them as a stop smoking tool in 2020, compared with 18.2% using forms of NRT.
The aim of e-cigarettes is to deliver nicotine to the body in a much less harmful way than smoking. The advantage of e-cigarettes is that they are used in the same way as cigarettes i.e. a hand-to-mouth action, making it a less harmful substitute for cigarettes. One study found that e-cigarettes were almost twice as effective as other forms of NRT as a stop smoking method, when accompanied by behavioural support.
Another advantage of making the switch from smoking to vaping is the level of control the user has over their device. The balance of vegetable glycerine (VG) to propylene glycol (PG) affects the vaping experience, with heavier smokers leaning towards a higher PG content to achieve more of a ‘throat hit’. You can also choose the strength of nicotine for most devices, and there is the option to mix your own liquids if you use a device with a tank - like a vape pen or box mod.
PREMIUM E-CIG AND VAPE PRODUCTS FROM SMOKO
SMOKO has been helping smokers make the switch from smoking to vaping for the past 8 years, and we don’t plan on stopping there! Our devices are designed to be simple and easy to use, with minimal faff, to ensure you stay off the ciggies. Our range of vape starter kits has all the bases covered.
SMOKO’s E-cigarette starter kit comes with two refills, a battery and a charger, in a convenient carry tin. This is our ‘cigalike’ product, enjoyed by thousands of vapers around the world. We also offer a VAPE E-cigarette, this is a pen-style device that uses a more powerful battery, but still uses pre-filled screw-on refills to keep things simple.
We are proud to say we have thrown our hat in the ring with other pod systems on the market, with our new SMOKO Vape Pod that features our UK made liquids in pod style refills, filled - with love - by us.
ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE STARTER KITS HELP THOUSANDS STOP SMOKING DURING COVID-19 CONCLUSION
According to ASH - Action on Smoking and Health - over a million people stopped smoking over the coronavirus pandemic, with a further 440,000 smokers making a quit attempt in the same period. Given the increasing popularity and validity of e-cigarettes as a stop smoking tool, we can assume 27.2% of those quitters used e-cigarettes to do so - that’s over 272,000 people!
The evidence is continually growing, but there is no doubt that switching to e-cigarettes is a huge leap in the right direction for any smoker. If you want to quit smoking, make sure to consider picking up a starter kit today, and get in touch with your local stop smoking service to access support to maximise your chances of quitting.
So if you are still trying to kick the habit - here are some popular and effective e-cigarette and vape kits to help you to quit smoking.
So if you are still trying to kick the habit - here are some popular and effective e-cigarette and vape kits to help you to quit smoking.
