Viewpoint by Cody Daniels/reporter

A fast-growing number of smokers are switching from regular cigarettes to electronic cigarettes to be healthier with little knowledge of the immediate and future health risks.

Because electronic cigarettes have no combustion, thus no smoke, switching to such a device does cut down on more than 400 toxic chemicals found in regular cigarette smoke. However, many electronic cigarette users, many very young, think water vapor makes it safe.

According to a study conducted by the University of Athens, Greece, short-term health effects occur instantly within the first 10 minutes of using an electronic cigarette. After 32 volunteers smoked on an e-cigarette for 10 minutes, eight lifetime non-smokers and the rest current avid smokers, both categories had an increase in air resistance in the lungs of at least 120 percent. Air resistance determines how much the lungs resist taking air into the lung sacs.

Electronic cigarettes may offer an absence of toxic chemicals, bad breath and a more pleasurable taste, but most juice flavors offered in local vapor shops contain nicotine. 

According to the American Medical Association, nicotine alone causes the release of adrenaline in high amounts in the blood stream, increases blood pressure, reduces the normal amount of insulin released in the bloodstream, causes the lungs to dilate and causes the body to immediately release glucose for future needs. A person who constantly uses an electronic cigarette constantly doses nicotine. Long-term nicotine use clogs the arteries and kills white blood cells.

Although e-cigarettes are not safe to use, using them as a quitting method is generally a much safer method than smoking regular ones, but users should still be aware of the risks.