According to a new study, people trying to quit smoking by using electronic cigarettes are less likely to feel unhappy.
Many people have successfully quit smoking using electronic cigarettes, but doctors could not recommend this method without scientific evidence from clinical trials.
But now, there is scientific proof.
Our latest research confirms that electronic cigarettes are indeed an effective way to quit smoking.
In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 900 people trying to quit smoking were randomly divided into two groups.
One group received Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), which typically combines fast-acting nicotine patches with gum, inhalers, or sprays.
The other group was given one or two bottles of e-liquid(*) along with refillable electronic cigarettes, and were taught how to use the device. They were also encouraged to purchase more materials that provided the nicotine effect and flavor they liked.
Both groups received weekly face-to-face support, at least for the first four weeks of the study.
Heavy smokers often feel terrible for a while as they fight the urge to smoke, irritability, and low mood while trying to quit.
However, the group using electronic cigarettes experienced these symptoms less frequently than the group using NRT.
At the beginning of the study, both groups applied the treatment almost daily.
Over time, a significant difference emerged, with about 40% of those in the electronic cigarette group still using e-cigarettes within a year.
On the other hand, only 4% of those in the NRT group continued to use nicotine replacement products.
Among those who did not smoke at all for one year, 80% were in the e-cigarette group, compared to only 9% in the NRT group.
Among those who failed to quit smoking, there were people in both groups who managed to reduce their smoking rates by at least 50%.
On the other hand, if someone who hasn't smoked for a long time continues to use electronic cigarettes for a year and this turns into a long-term habit, it may pose health risks.
It is estimated that the long-term health risk of using electronic cigarettes is less than 5% of the risk from smoking, but it still represents a preventable risk.
For people with a heavy smoking habit in our research, quitting smoking and switching to electronic cigarettes can be seen as a good outcome, as the risk of relapse is lower for those who quit with NRT and continue using these products long-term.
Therefore, long-term use of electronic cigarettes may also reduce the risk of returning to smoking.
Additionally, ongoing use of electronic cigarettes can help frequent smokers avoid common side effects such as irritability and weight gain when quitting smoking.
One rarely discussed topic is that some people genuinely enjoy smoking, and using electronic cigarettes can help them continue this pleasure.
Of course, these former smokers are still consuming nicotine through electronic cigarettes. However, this does not have as severe negative health effects as smoking. Most of the health risks of smoking come from the burning chemicals in combusted tobacco. Like people who use oral tobacco products such as snus or use nicotine replacement products for short or long periods, those who use nicotine without burning it do not experience the same negative health effects.
Smoking causes early death in about half of middle-aged smokers.
We continue to monitor the participants in the study, and as a result, we will have data on how long people continue to use electronic cigarettes, what effects this has on their health, and the rates of relapse.
During this time, doctors can provide smokers with scientific evidence that using electronic cigarettes can help them quit smoking.
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