Is the electronic cigarette the ideal solution to quit smoking?

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Electronic cigarettes are almost twice as effective in helping smokers quit as other alternatives to nicotine, such as patches, sugar pills and chewing gum, according to a recent study .

Positive results The study, which included nearly 900 smokers, showed that 18% of electronic cigarette users quit smoking within one year, compared to 9.9% who tried to smoke. Stop smoking using other means.

"This is great news for cigarette smokers who want to quit smoking," said Richard Mitch, a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in the United States, who conducted studies on e-cigarettes but did not not participated in the new study.

Tobacco is not used in electronic cigarettes, but consists of liquids containing nicotine, inhaled as smoke. Many large tobacco companies such as British American Tobacco, Imperial Brands and Japan Tobacco sell electronic cigarettes.

Afraid of its side effects In this context, a number of health experts consider that the use of electronic cigarettes is an effective way to help smokers quit smoking, but scientists are divided on their potential benefits for public health.

The latest study, funded by the British National Institute of Health Research and conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University in London, was robust and well conducted, independent experts said.

Some previous research suggested that e-cigarettes may help smokers to reduce or quit altogether, but other studies have raised concerns about their use in adolescents.

The new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, revealed a stronger impact of e-cigarettes than previous studies. The researchers said that this could be due to the participation of smokers in search of help, to provide them with direct support and to allow users of electronic cigarettes to choose liquids.