Currently there are around 2,8 million e-cigarette users in Great Britain and very many smokers find this product very useful when trying to quit smoking. It is important to take into account that many women use e-cigarettes during pregnancy as a substitute for smoking. With this in mind, an information sheet was produced by members of the organization of the " Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group In order to provide information and evidence about the e-cigarette as well as answers to some frequently asked questions. This information will allow midwives and medical teams to provide advice and to best respond to the concerns of pregnant women.
POTENTIAL ISSUES AND SUGGESTED ANSWERS
1) What is an electronic cigarette ?
Electronic cigarettes are designed to inhale nicotine through vapor rather than smoke. They work by heating and vaporizing a solution that usually contains nicotine, propylene glycol, or vegetable glycerin as well as flavorings. Unlike cigarettes, electronic cigarettes do not burn tobacco and do not produce tar or carbon monoxide. We are therefore talking about vaporization and not combustion and although the vapor has been found to contain certain toxic substances also present in cigarette smoke, these are at a much lower level.
2) Are electronic cigarettes safe to use ?
Electronic cigarettes are not completely safe, however, based on current evidence, they are only a fraction of the risk assessed with smoking. If you use an e-cigarette, it helps you stay away from smoking, it is much safer for you and your baby to vapot than to continue smoking.
While the vapor produced by electronic cigarettes contains toxic substances, these are lower than those of tobacco smoke and at least at levels not associated with serious health risks. Electronic cigarettes do not contain carbon monoxide, which is particularly dangerous for the development of the baby.
Electronic cigarettes are still fairly new, and we do not have any evidence for longer term use. We also do not know the risk of exposure to steam to unborn children.
Expectant mothers are advised to access support from a smoking cessation service, professional help has proven to be effective. It is also possible to use nicotine replacement products.
3) Is there carbon monoxide in electronic cigarettes ?
No. Electronic cigarettes do not contain Carbon Monoxide (CO) or many other chemicals found in cigarettes. If you only use electronic cigarettes without any other product containing CO, such as cigarettes, you should have as low a concentration as a non-smoker.
4) What about the risks of nicotine ?
The vast majority of damage caused by smoking comes from inhaling tobacco smoke, which contains about 4 chemicals, a significant number of which are toxic. While it is nicotine that makes tobacco addictive, it is relatively harmless. As proof, nicotine replacement therapy is widely used to help people quit smoking and is a safe form of treatment, including during pregnancy.
5) Can I use an electronic cigarette to help me quit smoking ?
Nicotine replacement products, patches, and gums are considered safe for use during pregnancy. Currently, there are no electronic cigarettes available that are licensed as drugs. We do not yet know if exposure to e-cigarette vapor can lead to potential risks to the fetus.
However, many smokers find e-cigarettes helpful in quitting smoking, and the evidence shows that they can be effective. If you choose to use an electronic cigarette and if it helps you quit smoking
it is in any case a much safer choice for you and your baby.
In case you use an e-cigarette to quit smoking, feel free to use it as needed, as often as needed, in the same way as for nicotine replacement products. Whichever method you choose to quit smoking, you can get free help and support from professionals. It is proven that you are up to four times more likely to be successful in quitting smoking with help.
INFORMATION ON E-CIGARETTE FOR WOMEN SAGE
1) What is an electronic cigarette? How does it work ?
Electronic cigarettes are designed to inhale nicotine through steam rather than smoke. They work by heating and spraying a solution that usually contains nicotine, propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin and flavors. Unlike cigarettes, electronic cigarettes do not burn tobacco and do not produce tar or carbon monoxide. So we talk about vaporization and not combustion and well
that the vapor has been found to contain certain toxic substances also present in cigarette smoke, these are at a much lower level.
Electronic cigarettes generally consist of a vaporization chamber and e-liquid. This e-liquid can be contained in a sealed cartridge or can be added to a tank. Electronic cigarettes can be disposable or refillable and there are different types: some look like real cigarettes (cigalike), others are pen-shaped or box-shaped with a mouthpiece.
Electronic cigarettes are known by a number of names (Ego, mods, box, shisha, personal vaporizer…). We call the act of using an e-cigarette "vaping" (the act of vaping or "vape / vaping" in English).
2) The use of e-cigarettes in adults
There are around 2,8 million adults in Britain who use e-cigarettes. Users are evenly split between smokers (1,4 million) and ex-smokers (1,3 million). Regular use is almost exclusively present in smokers or ex-smokers.
3) The use of e-cigarettes in children
Concerns have been raised by some people that the e-cigarette could be a gateway to smoking, especially among young people. However, data from the ASH Smokefree GB Youth survey indicates that regular e-cigarette use among young people remains rare. In 2015, 2,4% of young people surveyed declared having used e-cigarettes at least once a month and almost all of them reported being a smoker or ex-smoker.
These findings are also supported by other surveys of British youth.
4) Safety for users and during pregnancy
Although e-cigarettes are not completely risk-free, a review of the evidence requested by Public Health of England (PHE) in 2014 on the danger associated with e-cigarettes showed that currently the risk "is likely to be. extremely low, and certainly much lower than smoking ”. Further reviews have led to conclusions “Electronic cigarette vapor [EC] may contain toxic substances also present in tobacco smoke, but which are much weaker. The long term effects of e-cigarette use is unknown, but compared to cigarettes these are likely to be much less, if at all, harmful to users and those around them. "
When it comes to pregnancy, electronic cigarette vapor does not contain carbon monoxide, which is dangerous for developing babies. That said, because electronic cigarettes are relatively new, there is no evidence yet as to the effects of longer term use. The risks to the fetus from exposure to steam are unknown and there are currently no reliable studies providing information in this context.
Pregnant women who smoke can benefit from behavioral support and, if necessary, a prescription for nicotine replacement products. However, if they choose to use an electronic cigarette and if it helps them quit smoking, it is safer for them and their babies to use it rather than continue to smoke.
Sources and references : Smokefreeaction.org.uk
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