Planning for a Family: 3 Things You Need to Know About E-Cigarettes if You are Expecting

Planning for a Family: 3 Things You Need to Know About E-Cigarettes if You are Expecting

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, have been growing in popularity since they were introduced into the marketplace more than a decade ago. And as the product’s popularity continues to surge, there have been considerations raised about health concerns related to the product.

They Sort of Work Like Fog Machines

Ever been to a concert or stage show where fog machines got used? An e-cigarette works on a similar principle. Every electronic cigarette model, and there are many, have the same three components: a rechargeable lithium battery as a heating element, a vaporization chamber to create the vapor, and a cartridge filled with liquid nicotine that also acts as the mouthpiece for the user to inhale the smoke. It helps to think of the e-cigarette like a high-end cigarette holder used in old movies.

By using a heating element at the end of a tube, an e-cigarette boils a liquid containing propylene glycol, nicotine, and flavoring. The resulting chemical reaction converts the liquid into vapor the user inhales. The technology involved allows the user to smoke without dealing with some of the more unsavory aspects of tobacco smoking, including ash and that smoky smell that gets into everything, gets puffed on and smoked just like a regular cigarette, occasionally requiring the use of replacement coils.  

It Has a Better Public Reputation

Tobacco smoking got banned from public venues like stores and restaurants because of the dangers of secondhand smoke. And while e-cigarettes do make use of nicotine in the products, the public currently has a more relaxed view on public usage than with traditional tobacco smoking.  

Because the technology involved reduces the secondhand side effects, e-cigarette usage tends to be welcomed more at airports, restaurants, and other heavily populated indoor areas. However, a user should always check to make sure the house rules before firing up.

Family Considerations Still Rank High

As e-cigarette usage continues to grow, there have been some questions raised about possible health risks associated with the products, especially in regard to switching from regular cigarettes or for use by and around pregnant women.

The important thing to remember about e-cigarette usage is the nicotine content. Even though the technology may seem to make smoking healthier, the user will still be smoking a nicotine product when using an e-cigarette. The exact concentration and product levels can also vary depending on the products in question.

As such, the best course of action should be to treat e-cigarette usage like normal tobacco products. Children and pregnant women should avoid using the products. The Center for Disease Control acknowledges the difficulties of quitting smoking and the benefits of doing so, and the Food and Drug Administration has also not officially approved e-cigarettes as an aid to quit smoking.

Best Judgment

Regarding the use of e-cigarettes, the user has to trust their judgment and consider the health impacts to themselves and to any family members.