Electronic Cigarettes BLOG

In medicine, a nebulizer is a device used to administer medication to people in the form of a mist inhaled into the lungs. It is commonly used in treating cystic fibrosis, asthma, and other respiratory diseases.

There are different types of nebulizer, although the most common are the jet nebulizers, which are also called “atomizers”. Jet nebulizers are connected by tubing to a compressed air source that causes air or oxygen to blast at high velocity through a liquid medicine to turn it into an aerosol, which is then inhaled by the patient.

As a general rule, doctors most commonly prescribe metered-dose inhalers for their patients, largely because these are more convenient and portable than nebulizers. However, jet nebulizers are commonly used in hospital settings for patients who have difficulty using inhalers, such as in serious cases of respiratory disease, or severe asthma attacks.

Newer, compact electronic nebulizers are also available. These nebulizers, such as the Pari eFlow, the Respironics i-Neb, the Omron MicroAir series, and the Aerogen Aeroneb, use vibration of membranes or meshes to produce the aerosol and are more portable since they do not need the compressed air source that accompanies jet nebulizers. However, electronic nebulizers are more expensive. Piezoelectric nebulizers are used in electronic cigarettes.

Given the varying legal, moral and historical status of tobacco, and the different types of tobacco and tobacco use in different cultures around the world, debates on tobacco harm reduction tend to be geographically defined arguments. For instance, cigarette smoking is the dominant form in the United States, with a smaller number of users availing themselves of cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco. The political climate over the last few decades has led to both restrictions in the sale and use of tobacco and widespread information (and misinformation) about the negative health effects of tobacco use. Despite this, tobacco in all its forms has remained a legal product in most societies. A notable exception is the European Union, where the most dangerous products (cigarettes) are available but smokeless tobacco products, which are far less hazardous, are banned The exception is Sweden, where there is a long tradition of smokeless tobacco use among men.

Cigarette manufacturers have attempted to design safer cigarettes for almost 50 years, but results have been marginal at best . Filters were introduced in the early 1950s, and manufacturers were selling low-yield cigarettes by the late 1960s. Initially it was thought that these innovations were harm reducing.For example, in 1976 investigators at the American Cancer Society published research concluding that light cigarettes were safer. The study authors wrote that “total death rates, death rates from coronary heart disease, and death rates from lung cancer were somewhat lower for those who smoked ‘low’ tar-nicotine cigarettes than for those who smoked ‘high’ tar-nicotine cigarettes.”

It is now established that use of Swedish and American smokeless tobacco confers only 0.1% to 10% of the risks of smoking (smokeless products in India and Asia contain higher levels of contaminants and confer higher risks). Two respected medical groups believe that ST may play a role in reducing smoking-attributable deaths. In 2007, Britain’s Royal College of Physicians concluded “…that smokers smoke predominantly for nicotine, that nicotine itself is not especially hazardous, and that if nicotine could be provided in a form that is acceptable and effective as a cigarette substitute, millions of lives could be saved.” In 2008, the American Association of Public Health Physicians became the first medical organization in the U.S. to formally adopt a policy of “…encouraging and enabling smokers to reduce their risk of tobacco-related illness and death by switching to less hazardous smokeless tobacco products.”

Electronic Cigarettes are battery-powered devices that deliver vaporized propylene glycol/nicotine when users inhale while using them. The regulatory status of e-cigarettes in many countries is unclear, while in others the use or sale of electronic cigarettes is illegal (e.g. Australia and Hong Kong). Preliminary laboratory evaluation of one brand reveals that it contains virtually none of the harmful byproducts of tobacco combustion. Studies of the health risks are not available.

Proponents of tobacco harm reduction assert that lessening the health risk for the individual user is worthwhile and manifests over the population in fewer tobacco-related illnesses and deaths. Opponents argue that some aspects of harm reduction interfere with cessation and abstinence and might increase initiation. Smokers remain confused about tobacco harm reduction. In one survey about 66-75% of participants incorrectly perceived low-yield cigarettes as harm-reducing, while 75-80% mistakenly believed that switching to smokeless tobacco conferred no risk reduction

Due to the relative novelty of the technology and the possible relationship to tobacco laws and medical drug policies, electronic cigarette legislation and public health investigations are currently pending in many countries.

In Australia, the sale of electronic cigarettes containing nicotine is illegal.
In Brazil electronic cigarettes sales, importation or advertisement of any kind are forbidden. Anvisa, the Brazilian health and sanitation federal agency, found the current health safety assessments about e-cigarettes not to be yet satisfactory to make the product eligible to be approved for commercialization.
In Canada, as of March 2009, imports, sales, and advertising is banned. In March 2009, Health Canada also advised Canadians not to purchase or use any electronic smoking products. Health Canada cited the Food and Drugs Act, stating that electronic smoking products containing nicotine require market authorization before they can be imported, marketed, or sold. No market authorization has been granted for any electronic smoking product.
In The Netherlands, use of electronic cigarettes is allowed, but advertising is forbidden pending European Union legislation.
In New Zealand, the Ministry of Health has ruled that the Ruyan e-cigarette falls under the requirements of the Medicines Act, and cannot be sold except as a registered medicine. They do note, as it is not a tobacco product, it is permissible to advertise it.
In Panama, importation, distribution and sale has been prohibited since June 2009. The Ministry of Health cites the FDA findings as their reason for the ban.
In the United Kingdom, electronic cigarette use is currently unrestricted.
In the United States, as of November 2009, use is unrestricted, however some imports are being seized. The FDA considers e-cigarettes to be a nicotine delivery system, subject to its approval.
In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have banned sales, stating “[...] If adults want to purchase and consume these products with an understanding of the associated health risks, they should be able to do so [...]”

An electronic cigarette, otherwise known as a personal vaporizer, is a battery-powered device that provides inhaled doses of nicotine by way of a vaporized solution. It is an alternative to smoked tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. In addition to nicotine delivery, this vapor also provides a flavor and physical sensation similar to that of inhaled tobacco smoke, while no tobacco, smoke, or combustion is actually involved in its operation.

An electronic cigarette usually takes the form of some manner of elongated tube, though many are designed to resemble the outward appearance of real smoking products, like cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. A common design is also the “pen-style”, so named for its visual resemblance to a ballpoint pen. Most electronic cigarettes are reusable devices with replaceable and refillable parts.

Most electronic cigarettes employ a lithium-ion rechargeable battery to power the heating element. Battery life varies depending on the battery type and size, frequency of use, and operating environment. Many different battery charger types are available, such as wall outlet, car, and USB. The battery is generally the largest component of an electronic cigarette.

Most electronic cigarettes employ an electronic airflow sensor to automatically activate upon inhalation, while some models instead have a manual button that the user must press while inhaling. Various other electronic circuits are usually employed as well, such as a timed cutoff switch to prevent overheating, and an LED to signal activation of the device. An orange-colored light is often chosen for its visual resemblance to actual burning tobacco in the front of the cigarette.

While some larger electronic cigarette models employ an independently replaceable standard-size battery cell, many models are too small to house a standard-size cell and instead require a proprietary component made by the electronic cigarette manufacturer. For those models, the battery and electronic components are housed within a single replaceable part, which is generally referred to in the industry simply as the “battery” — even though it actually contains many other components as well.