Alternative tobacco products are increasingly being discussed. Various products have also started to appear, such as e-cigarettes or vapes, nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products, to snus. This product is said to have a lower hazard than cigarettes. What are the facts? Check out this article.
Exposure to chemicals that are harmful to health in alternative tobacco products is rated much lower than cigarettes. Even so, the safety of alternative tobacco products and their long-term side effects are still being studied.
The Dangers of Smoking for Health
The dangers of smoking to health are unquestionable. Many serious diseases lurk smokers. This is not only a risk for people who smoke, but also for passive smokers who inhale the smoke.
In addition to the dangers of cigarette smoke, everyone knows that cigarettes also contain nicotine which can cause dependence for smokers.
In addition to nicotine, burning cigarettes produces tar. This tar is harmful to health because it contains solid particles produced during combustion, and has the potential to cause various smoking-related diseases.
The Risks of Using Alternative Tobacco Products
As the discussion about alternative tobacco products grows, the notion that alternative tobacco products have a lower hazard to health has been reviewed by a number of health institutions in many countries.
One of them is by Public Health England (PHE) which recommends vaping as a smoking cessation tool.
In addition, the Ministry of New Zealand assesses that alternative tobacco products have the potential to help achieve Smoke Free New Zealand 2025, and encourage smokers to switch to alternative products as a smoking cessation tool.
So far, research results show that the harm of alternative tobacco products to health is much lower than the harm of cigarettes. The main reason is because there is no combustion.
This fundamental difference causes the amount of harmful compounds produced by alternative tobacco products to be much reduced. In fact, because there is no combustion process, alternative tobacco products also produce no tar at all.
Here are some types of alternative tobacco products and the risks of side effects:
1. Nicotine paste
The nicotine patch, which is shaped like a patch, is very easy to use, you just need to put it on the skin to release nicotine little by little into the body. The side effects of these alternative tobacco products are itching, rash, or irritation of the skin, to headaches.
2. Nicotine gum
The shape of nicotine gum is similar to regular chewing gum. If you want to use alternative tobacco products of this type to control the urge to smoke, follow the rules of use. Side effects of nicotine gum include throat irritation, nausea, heartburn, and a racing heart.
3. E-cigarettes
Using e-cigarettes is considered better than burning cigarettes. According to PHE, although it is not completely risk-free, this alternative product has a much lower danger than conventional cigarettes. The recommended e-cigarettes are in the form of a closed system, or better known as “pods” so that they cannot be misused by adding other additional compounds.
The dangers of e-cigarettes so far are generally due to errors in their use. If used properly, e-cigarettes can be quite an effective way to quit smoking.
4. Heated tobacco products
In contrast to conventional cigarettes which are burned and then produce smoke, heated tobacco products work by heating the tobacco stem within a certain temperature range, so that the toxic substances produced are much less than burning. The result of heating also produces steam, without smoke or tar.
In addition, unlike vaping e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products use real tobacco leaves as the source of nicotine, not liquid nicotine.
According to the U.S. FDA, heating tobacco significantly reduces the production of HPHC/Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents (a hazardous and potentially hazardous chemical) compared to combustion.
Furthermore, research shows that switching completely from burned cigarettes to heated tobacco products significantly reduces the body's exposure to the 15 harmful and potentially harmful chemicals on the FDA's list.
From the explanation above, it can be understood that cigarettes and alternative tobacco products both still have risks. However, when compared, many studies have shown that alternative tobacco products have a lower risk to health than cigarettes.
This is the reason why alternative tobacco products are often used as a way to quit smoking.
However, keep in mind that these products are not completely safe for health. The best solution in avoiding the dangers of smoking is of course not to start smoking or to stop smoking altogether.zero risk) if possible.
If you find it difficult to quit smoking, try to consult a doctor. If necessary, your doctor can recommend the best method to help you quit smoking.
