NO. 1089 - E-CIGARETTES ARE BAD NEWS!
No. 1089
Jim Davidson -- NEWSPAPER COLUMN.
E-CIGARETTES ARE BAD NEWS!
Did you hear about the kid who thought he was getting in “free” when he crawled under the tent at the circus, and it turned out to be a revival meeting? This is an analogy I thought of when I was thinking about those people who take up e-cigarettes as a substitute for smoking real cigarettes. In many cases, the substitute turns out to be even worse.
For me, smoking is a topic that is somewhat personal, because I have witnessed first-hand the power of smoking addiction. My only sister died a few years ago from lung cancer, as she was a chain-smoker. A favorite uncle died at the age of 53, and he, too, was a chain smoker.
While I smoked a few cigars when I was a kid, I have never bought a pack of cigarettes in my life, and it baffles me why intelligent people will spend $5 for a pack of cigarettes knowing that research has proven that smoking them causes lung cancer. In fact, it is estimated that one in every five deaths in the United States is due to lung cancer caused by smoking. When you look at the data and research done by the Federal Drug Administration and the National Cancer Institute, it is crystal clear that it is a very poor choice for any person to take up smoking that can become an addiction.
For those people who are smokers today, there are tremendous long-term benefits for quitting. Heart rate and blood pressure, which are abnormally high while smoking, begin to return to normal. Within a few hours, the level of carbon monoxide in the blood begins to decline. Within a few weeks, people who quit smoking have improved circulation, produce less phlegm, and don’t cough or wheeze as often. Within several months of quitting, people can expect substantial improvement in lung function. Within a few years of quitting, people will have lower risks of cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases. In addition, people who quit smoking will have an improved sense of smell and food will taste better.
While you may or may not know this, for the past couple of decades there has been a constant battle between the tobacco industry and the national health organizations, including a number of court cases. At this reporting, the tobacco industry is up, as a ruling in a recent court case stopped the labeling of the dangers of cigarette smoking, a move that could have caused many young people to never take up smoking. The battle continues to this very day.
The latest trend that is designed to hook more young people on smoking is the introduction of the e-cigarette, or “Vapes” as they are called. If you use e-cigarettes or are thinking about trying them, here is some information that may be helpful. E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that can look like a real cigarette or pen. Some with refillable tanks look a bit different. There are hundreds of brands, but they all work the same way. They have containers filled with liquid that’s usually made of nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals. A heating device turns the liquid into a vapor that you inhale when you take a drag. It has been reported that these things can harm the developing brains of kids and can affect memory and attention. They contain chemicals including nicotine, formaldehyde, and others used in building materials.
It’s a clear choice. When you smoke regular or “e,” who wins -- you or the people who made the profit?
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(Editor’s Note: Bookcase for Every Child – Changing Lives & Futures – ONE AT A TIME. Please visit our website: www.bookcaseforeverychild.com)
