Electronic cigarettes: an inexpensive, healthier alternative for smokers

I quit smoking several years ago with the assistance of the Clean Break program. At the time, I was unaware that the harm from smoking comes primarily from the tobacco delivery system – nicotine, itself, is relatively harmless. I was also unaware back then of the availability of electronic cigarettes, an inexpensive, healthier alternative for smokers. This morning I came across this article at ConsumerWeeklyTips that offers good news to tobacco users:

If you haven't already heard, Electronic cigarettes have grabbed the attention of countless tobacco users worldwide. Everyone from movie stars to your neighbors are using them. But are they really a healthier and cheaper alternative to traditional cigarettes? Can they really help you quit smoking? Creators and product users now say you can enjoy a cheaper, healthier cigarette without the bad smells, second-hand smoke, or cancer causing chemicals. With these huge claims, we decided to uncover the electronic cigarette for our readers.

A few of the benefits claimed from using the electronic cigarette:

• No tar, tobacco, carbon monoxide, or ash.
• Get the same amount of nicotine as a regular cigarette.
• Each cartridge costs less than $2 and is equivalent to an entire pack of cigarettes.
• You can save over $1,000 each year.
• You won't "smell" like a smoker any longer.
• Different flavors are available.
• No more second-hand smoke.

We decided to see what expert medical doctors and product users had to say about electronic cigarettes, and the results were surprising. In fact, Joel Niztkin, Chair of the Tobacco Control Task Force for the American Association of Public Health Physicians concluded that "...if we get all tobacco smokers to switch from regular cigarettes to electronic cigarettes, we would eventually reduce the US death toll from more than 400,000 a year to less than 4,000, maybe as low as 400." (1)

Read more: