E-cigarettes and the Aging Senior

Trying to quit smoking? You may have turned to the latest craze – e-cigarettes. Think again.

A look at the use of electronic cigarettes at Duke University has resulted in a caution for aging seniors who use them believing e-cigarettes to be safer than regular cigarettes.

Originally developed to use heated vapours that look like smoke, it is now understood that the cocktail of chemicals that are delivered with every puff include carcinogens.

According to Duke’s editorial on the subject, “nanoparticles which have been linked to asthma, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes, all of which tend to increase with age” are a danger to aging seniors. Further, users may find levels of formaldehyde to be the same as those found in regular cigarettes.

For safer means to quit smoking consider a patch or nicotine chewing gum but always check with your doctor to make sure there are no side effects with your existing medications.