According to one study, electronic cigarettes can help people stop smoking safely

January 31 (UPI) - Electronic cigarettes can help people get out of traditional cigarettes safely, according to a new study.

According to a study published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, people who used electronic cigarettes stopped almost twice the one-year rate of abstinence from those taking nicotine replacement therapy.

"This is the first study to use a new form of electronic cigarette in a long-term trial, and compare it with nicotine replacement therapy approved by the FDA in a randomized trial," Belinda Borrelli, who heads the Research Center for Behavioral Sciences at Boston University, told UPI. "Other strengths of this study include the biochemical verification of smoking results: the nicotine replacement therapy group (NRT) has a choice of products (rubber, patches, etc.) and can switch between them. If they want, the e-cig arm has a choice of electronic fluids, and that is a pragmatic test carried out in real-world settings. "

Even so, NRT has a long-term success story, with a six-month abstinence rate of around 26 percent and a one-year rate of 20 percent.

In addition, electronic cigarettes have an unknown effect on health. According to a recent study, people who smoke electronic cigarettes have a 72 percent higher risk of stroke and heart attack and 51 percent higher risk of angina. He also reported that users of smoking cigarettes, or vape, doubled. level of people who smoke traditional cigarettes.

That's why the researchers recommend that smokers use NRT approved by the FDA to stop smoking first, and then switching to e-cigs is only a last resort, and one of the two methods must be accompanied by behavioral therapy.

"There is strong evidence that electronic cigarettes have a smaller risk than traditional cigarettes, but they are not without risk," Borrelli said. "Electronic cigarettes have much the same toxicity as traditional cigarettes but at a lower level, and it has been shown that some of the flavors of electronic cigarettes are dangerous." There is not enough research on the safety of electronic cigarettes for smokers. general, as well as those at high risk, such as those who have cardiovascular or lung disease. The reason is that there are more than 400 brands of electronic cigarettes and they vary greatly. "

Borrelli also warned people not to see electronic cigarettes as a miracle drug to stop smoking.

"Another 'side effect' of electronic cigarettes is the potential to 'normalize' addiction," Borelli said. "If there is an increase in the use of adults, will that use be increasing for children and young adults?"

"It's too early to make recommendations for changes in practice based on research that only has 79 people," he cautioned, however, suggesting that much research is needed.