E-Cigarettes

 Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.  It accounts for 1 out of every 5 of these deaths.  Damage to DNA caused from smoking stays with a person for decades and in some instances does not revert to normal even after they stop smoking.  Many people believe electronic cigarettes are a healthier alternative than smoking.  Vaping, or smoking electronic cigarettes that produce vapor instead of smoke, has its own list of negative health effects.   People are just trading one serious health risk for another.

E-cigarettes or e-cigs came to the US about 2007, and are not a safe alternative to smoking regular cigarettes.  An e-cig uses heat to create an aerosol that contains nicotine, flavorings, solvents, and other chemicals.  The flavorings were developed to satisfy taste buds.  Diacetyl is an artificial flavor also used for adding a buttery taste to microwave popcorn.  It can cause respiratory damage, including inflammation and permanent scarring of the airways.  It is just one of the many chemicals used to flavor e-cigarettes.  Vape flavorings like bubble gum, Dr. Pepper, and cotton candy entice young people to use e-cigarettes.  E-cigarettes may damage the lung tissue as well as affecting and damaging the brain.