Why should I make the switch from tobacco to e-cigs?

Marketed as a healthier alternative to smoking, e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco but do contain nicotine-infused water which is inhaled as an odourless vapour. Pure nicotine is highly addictive but is not considered particularly harmful, unlike the lethal effects of tobacco.

“Electronic cigarettes satisfy the two elements of addiction without the harmful side effects," says Claire Green, director of the West Yorkshire based e-cigarette brand INCIG. "The e-cigarette supplies nicotine, which has been proven to be as relatively harmless as caffeine and it also, provides smokers something physically to feel and mimic motion of drawing on a cigarette. It is possible to have all the physical enjoyment of smoking without the negative health issues," says Claire.

An Italian team of scientists, led by Riccardo Polosa of the University of Catania, recently gave e-cigarettes to 40 hard-core smokers. After six months, more than half of the smokers had cut their cigarette use by over 50 per cent and almost a quarter had quit ordinary cigarettes altogether.

Despite results such as these, Claire stressed that she did not regard their product as a 'cessation aid' to help smokers quit. In the UK, e-cigarettes cannot be called a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and cannot be displayed next to patches or gums in shops because they are not approved by the Medicine and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). However, within the next month this may change as the product is again being reviewed by the Agency.

Smoking tobacco has over 4000 chemicals & tar. Most of which are cancer causing agents. Electronic cigarettes e-liquid has 99% less chemicals, no tar, and no cancer causing agents. This speaks for itself.

There is little argument over whether the devices are cheaper. With a pack of 20 cigarettes now nearing £8, INCIG e-cigarettes offer the nicotine equivalent of 150 cigarettes for more or less the same price at £8.99.
Sales of e-cigarettes are increasing and a range of companies including some of the biggest names in tobacco are set to launch similar devices.

The Royal College of Physicians has argued in favour of e-cigarettes as a harm-reduction tool. It acknowledges that little is known of their long-term effects but said in a 2007 report: "In any circumstance, the use of NRT [including e-cigarettes] is many orders of magnitude safer than smoking."

If you want to know more about e cigarettes please visit our website www.incig.co.uk