According to a new study from the University of Washington (UW), adult smokers who switch to using e-cigarettes may have a better chance of improving their health.
Researchers tracked changes in the health and social functioning of smokers during two stages of adulthood, with follow-up at ages 30 and 39. Approximately one-third of the smokers switched to partial or complete smoking cessation by age 39. Study findings reveal that this group reported better physical health, higher levels of physical activity, and more active social participation.
Marina Epstein, a research scientist with the Social Development Research Group at the University of Washington School of Social Work, says "while electronic cigarettes pose clear risks for non-smokers, they may have the potential to promote health in the lives of smokers." Epstein is also a co-author of the study published in the journal Substance Abuse and Dependence.
This study is based on a larger longitudinal study called the Seattle Social Development Project, which began in 1985 and tracked approximately 800 fifth-grade children from Seattle elementary schools. The current study focuses on a sample of 156 participants who reported smoking at age 30 and either smoking or using drugs at age 39.
Electronic cigarettes first appeared in the mid-2000s in the United States, with participants in research samples being around 30 years old. By 2018, 10% of adult smokers nationwide were also using electronic cigarettes.
Smoking is particularly popular among teenagers and young people. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified electronic cigarettes as the most popular tobacco product among American young people, estimating that nearly 21% of young people use electronic cigarettes.
Previous studies have found that teenagers and young adults who use electronic cigarettes are more likely to later use traditional cigarettes. "Electronic cigarettes have thus become a public health disaster," says Rick Kosterman, a scientist from the Social Development Research Group.
At the same time, while electronic cigarettes do pose some risks - the aerosol contains nicotine, small amounts of heavy metals and other ultra-fine and carcinogenic particles that can enter the lungs - the U.S. Disease Control Centers believe that they are safer than traditional or combustible cigarettes.
As electronic cigarettes are widely considered a "healthier" alternative, researchers hope to examine the behavior of smokers who switched to e-cigarettes either partially or completely during their middle age.
The research team gathered a series of widely recognized measures of healthy aging and well-being, including overall physical and mental health, engagement in healthy behaviors and social activities, as well as education and income level. They then surveyed participants between the ages of 30 and 39 to gather information on these measures as well as the frequency of their engagement in certain activities.
Among 156 study participants, 64% only smoked combustible cigarettes at the age of 39, 28% smoked both combustible and electronic cigarettes, and 8% exclusively used electronic cigarettes. The survey results indicate that more frequent use of electronic cigarettes is associated with better physical health, increased physical activity, greater social engagement, and higher socioeconomic status compared to smoking cigarettes.
Although this study cannot demonstrate a causal relationship, we believe that because e-cigarettes carry less stigma, generate less odor, and have fewer harmful effects on the body, they may increase smokers' opportunities for enhancing their health. According to Kosterman, "E-cigarette users may be more likely to have opportunities to interact with non-smokers in settings that promote physical activity.
No correlation has been found between switching to electronic cigarettes and improved mental health, reduced use of other substances (such as alcohol), or whether one's partner or closest friend smokes (although e-cigarette users may come from healthier social environments).
Overall, researchers emphasize that electronic cigarettes still have significant public health drawbacks. However, this study suggests that smokers who switch to vaping, whether occasionally or as a substitute for cigarettes, may have more opportunities to choose a healthier lifestyle.
According to them, this does not mean that vaping is healthy, but for people who already smoke and cannot quit, it can be linked to other healthy lifestyle choices.
Source: University of Washington
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