Electronic Cigarettes Flashcards
What are e-cigarettes a term for?
- Term for a family of non tobacco, non medicinal nicotine delivery systems
What was the first generation of e-cigarettes?
- Cigalikes (looked like cigarettes
What was the second generation of e-cigarettes?
- Tank (refillable)
What was the second generation of e-cigarettes?
- Big tank (customisable) - can change how you use them
What are the components of an e-cigarette? (5)
Ecigs have a mouthpiece, battery, cartridge, atomiser or cartomiser (modern combination of an atomiser and cartridge)
How does an e-cig work?
- Current passes through a resistance coil that is in contact with a fluid
- Heat generates an aerosol, the vapour
What is the newest addition to the e-cig range?
Juul systems (this is a pod system)
What are the components of the liquid for an e-cig? (4)
- Propylene glycol
- Vegetable glycerine
- Natural/artificial flavourings
- Nicotine level (mg/ml)
What are the characteristic of propylene glycol?
- Thinner, more flavour, throat hit
What are the characteristics of vegetable glycerine?
- Thicker, big clouds, smooth
What are the possible levels of nicotine in the liquid for an e-cig?
- 0%, 1.5%/0.15%, 3, 6, 12, 18 mg/ml
What nicotine level would be in the liquid for a heavy smoker using an e-cigarette?
12-18mg/ml
What nicotine level would be in the liquid for a light smoker using an e-cigarette?
- No higher than 6mg/ml
What is vaping?
- Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the water vapour produced by an electronic device
What form is an e-liquid in when using an e-cigarette?
- It is in its gaseous form
What is the addictive element in an e-cigarette?
- Nicotine
What is the max nicotine level in an e-cigarette?
Liquid nicotine level, max strength 20mg/ml, and many liquids are below that strength
Liquids are now legally sold only in smaller sizes. What is the size?
- 10mls, though can be purchased in multipacks
What is the tank size of an e-cigarette limited to?
- Limited to 2mls
What is the particular target group for e-cigarettes?
Ex-current smokers
Under what age are e-cigarettes banned?
- Banned for under 18s
Who do we strongly advice against buying e-cigarettes?
- Non-smokers
What are reasons that people may use e-cigarettes? (9)
- Aid to quitting
- Less toxic alternative
- Cheaper alternative
- Harm reduction/reduce smoking
- Alternative to cigs when cigs are banned
- Hand to mouth habit maintained
- Psychological aspect of addiction maintained
- Recreation and socialisation
- Vaping community
What are the pros for the public health aspects of e-cigs? (2)
- Public health costs of smoking are vast
- Consideration must be given to harm reduction argument, because tobacco so lethal
What are the cons for the public health aspects of e-cigs? (4)
- Renormalisation of smoking?
- Gateway or pathway?
- Evidence base?
- Involvement of big tobacco
How much less harmful are e-cigarettes than cigarettes?
- E-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than tobacco. So its not saying that they’re harm free it is saying that they’re much less harmful
What are possible oral side effects of e-cigarettes? (6)
- Largely unknown. Surprisingly little attention considering the relationship between e-cigarette aerosols will contact oral mucosa when they are at their hottest
- Mouth and throat dryness
- Oral cancer?
- Periodontal disease?
- Benign mucosal lesions?
- Lichenoid eruptions associated with use of an e-cigarette
When talking to patients we would give advice to smokers who want to quit. What would this include? (2)
- Ask, advise, refer
- Ask advise assist
When talking to patients we would give advice to patients who are co-users. What would this include? (2)
- Encouragement that they are reducing their exposure to tobacco by using e-cigs
- While it is likely they are safer, evidence base is still developing, particularly with regard to oral health
When talking to patients we would give advice to e-cig users (ex smokers). What would this include? (2)
- Strong encouragement that they have quit tobacco
- Evidence base still developing, with regards to e-cigs
Are there any circumstances in which it is safer to smoke than to use e-cigarettes?
- NO
Don’t do drugs!
Do life! It’s a natural HIGH! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UAOhMvOtQY
