THE DANGER OF E-CIGARETTES

Here's why vaping isn't the innocent solution to smoking that it was once thought to be.

- ROSE GOODMAN, SAMANTHA WOOD

We'll start with the good news. Unlike traditional cigarettes, there's no tobacco being burnt when you vape - so you're not inhaling tar, carbon monoxide and other toxic chemicals that cause the most harm to the body.

Instead, a battery heats a coil, which warms a cartridge or tank of vaping liquid made from propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, a flavouring - and nicotine. This creates a vapour that you inhale, offering an experience similar to smoking. 'At the moment, when using a vape that meets regulations, the health risks are smaller than the risk of cigarettes,' says Dr Patel.

A tool to quit

Indeed, vaping can help smokers to cut back, as you still get that nicotine hit. Research found that people who used e-cigarettes to quit smoking (alongside expert in-person support) were twice as likely to stop smoking as those who used nicotine replacement products, such as patches or gum.

With a packet of cigarettes now averaging around £14, it also helps us spend less money. 'But you should plan to eventually quit vaping too, once you know you won't be tempted to go back to cigarettes,' adds Dr Patel.

Risk assessment

E-CIGARETTES ARE FAR FROM HARMLESS 'Most patients report a dry mouth and throat, a cough and headaches. This is due to the nicotine, as well as the mixture of chemicals and toxins being inhaled in the vapour,' says GP Dr Raj Arora.

LONG-TERM VAPERS COULD ALSO BE AT RISK OF SERIOUS LUNG PROBLEMS E-cigarettes can contain vitamin E acetate, a synthetic form of vitamin E, which can lead to lung damage. It can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain and rapid heart beat.