According to every current Cochrane Study, nicotine e-cigarettes are more successful than typical Nicorette therapy (NRT) in helping people quit smoking. Additionally, research headed by the University of Oxford and backed by Cancer Research UK has uncovered the best and there is no proof that e-cigarettes, sometimes known as “vapes,” help people quit smoking more effectively than traditional nicotine replacement therapy such as patches and peppermint gum.
According to research findings published today in the Cochrane Library, nicotine e-cigarettes, or ‘vapes,’ are more likely to provide a helpful hand for smokers who wish to quit smoking for at least six months than nicotine replacement therapy like patches and gums. There was additionally indication that nicotine e-cigarettes led to greater quit rates than non-nicotine e-cigarettes or no give up smoking intervention, however these analyses had fewer data. The latest Cochrane review comprises 78 trials with approximately 22,000 participants, a 22-study increase from the previous update in 2021.
Moreover, Tobacco use is a major global health issue. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), 22.3% of the world’s population used tobacco in 2020, despite the fact that it killed up to 50% of its users. Quitting smoking lowers the chance of lung cancer, heart attacks, and a variety of other ailments. While the majority of smokers wish to cease, most struggle to do so effectively. Nicotine patches and gum are safe, effective, and frequently used treatments for helping individuals quit smoking.
E-cigarettes heat nicotine and flavoring liquids, allowing users to ‘vape’ nicotine rather than smoking. According to the review’s findings, if six out of every hundred patients discontinued using nicotine replacement treatment, eight to twelve would quit using nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes. This suggests that two to six persons out of every hundred could potentially quit smoking by using nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes. ‘Electronic cigarettes also had led to a lot of misunderstanding among the public health community and the popular press since their introduction over a decade ago,’ said Dr Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Associate Professor at Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Publisher of the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group, and one of the new publication’s authors.
For the very first time, there is solid proof that electronic cigarettes are more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapy such as patches or gums in assisting individuals give up smoking.
In recent years, vaping has emerged as a popular alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. Numerous smokers have turned to vaping to lower their nicotine intake and, eventually, to quit smoking entirely. Simultaneously, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as nicotine gum, lozenges, and patches, has been used to help smokers stop for many years. While both vaping and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can help smokers stop, new study suggests that vaping may be more effective than NRT.
One explanation why vaping might prove more beneficial than NRT is that it closely resembles the smoking experience. Vaping devices, often known as e-cigarettes, include a liquid that is heated to create an aerosol that is breathed. This action is similar to smoking a traditional cigarette, and many smokers find that vaping satisfies their cravings for nicotine in a way that NRT does not. NRT products, such as gum and patches, do not replicate the physical act of smoking, and some smokers may find them less satisfying.
Another reason why vaping may be more effective than NRT is that e-cigarettes can deliver nicotine more quickly to the body. When a smoker inhales from a traditional cigarette, nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly through the lungs. The aerosol breathed into the lungs by vaping is absorbed faster than NRT products, which are normally absorbed through the skin or digestive tract. This rapid nicotine delivery can help smokers stop by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
E-cigarettes may also be more helpful than nicotine replacement therapy in helping smokers quit smoking in the long run, according to research. According to a research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 18% of smokers who used e-cigarettes quit smoking after one year, compared to 9.9% of those who used NRT. Another study published in the journal Addiction discovered that when compared to NRT, e-cigarette usage was associated with a higher likelihood of effective stopping.
However, it’s important to note that vaping is not risk-free. While e-cigarettes do not contain the harmful chemicals found in traditional cigarettes, they do contain nicotine, which is addictive. Furthermore, there are worries regarding the long-term health impacts of e-cigarette usage, and additional research is required to properly comprehend these hazards.
In conclusion, while both vaping and NRT can help smokers quit, recent research suggests that vaping may be more effective than NRT. Vaping closely mimics the experience of smoking, delivers nicotine more quickly to the body, and may be more effective at helping smokers stay off traditional cigarettes in the long term. Therefore, before determining whether or not to employ vaping as a cessation aid, consider the potential dangers of e-cigarette use.