How E-Cigarettes Reduce Nicotine Cravings

Many quit smoking products have been developed to help smokers deal with tobacco cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Known as nicotine replacement therapies, these help smokers kick the habit and deal with nicotine addiction.

These products come in the form of nicotine patches, gum, lozenges as well as prescription medications that don’t have nicotine at all. Research has shown that the use of these smoking cessation aids can improve a smoker’s chance of quitting for good.

The latest nicotine replacement product to enter the market is the electronic cigarette or e cigarette. This is a hand-held vaporizer that delivers nicotine to the body at various doses. This is packed in a refillable cartridge that contains liquid nicotine. Different flavors are available and some have no nicotine whatsoever. .

   

This portable device resembles a real cigarette but it runs on batteries and doesn’t burn tobacco. The absence of tobacco and smoke means electronic cigarettes don’t have any of the harmful substances found in regular cigarettes.

Instead of smoking tobacco and inhaling its toxic ingredients, users of e cigarettes absorb nicotine by vaping. The “smoke” coming from an electronic cigarette is cleaner since it is a mist like the ones produced by a nebulizer or humidifier. For this reason, e cigarettes have been hailed by many as a healthy way to smoke and an important quit smoking aid.

 

Researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) found that electronic cigarettes work in the same way as other nicotine replacement products like the nicotine patch and gum. Nicotine is absorbed by the body to help the smoker deal with withdrawal symptoms. These come in different doses ranging from 6 milligrams (mg) for low, 11 mg for medium, 16 mg for high, and 20 mg for extra high cigarettes.

Still, the nicotine content of electronic cigarettes is much lower than that of conventional cigarettes. This is explained by the fact that the average smoker takes about 15 puffs on a cigarette which is equivalent to 1 to 2 mg of nicotine consumption. However, 15 puffs on a 16 mg e cigarette cartridge gives the smoker only about 0.15 mg of nicotine. Thus, nicotine absorption is less in electronic cigarettes than traditional cigarettes.

As the smoker inhales the reduced nicotine content of an e cigarette, he lessens his need for the substance and controls his physical cravings at the same time. Over time, he quits smoking altogether, making the e cigarette an important tool against tobacco smoking.

There are also nicotine-free electronic cigarettes that are made from ingredients other than tobacco. Many come from cocoa beans that taste as good as the real thing. These are used to help smokers quit by substituting nicotine with a non-addictive substance.  

If you want to cut down on smoking or quit, it’s time to switch to electronic cigarettes. This will let you enjoy the pleasure of smoking without the dangers of tobacco. For serious quitters, e cigarettes are the answer.