Dear Colleague

Thank you very much for the comments you made on my study and for your presence to the conference. Perhaps i was not very clear during the press conference, so I hope i can clear some misunderstandings. Our study included tissue Doppler velocity measurements, and we have found no adverse effects on electronic cigarette users contrary to our findings in smokers. We are now in the process of  analyzing data from 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography measurements that we have collected, and this will add information, since they are considered even more sensitive in detecting cardiac dysfunction.

Finally, i agree with you that the sample is small and that more studies are certainly needed. Our study sample is now 30 electronic cigarette users compared to 28 smokers, and the results are even more important from a statistical point of view. You will probably see a publication of our study in the near future. Until now, this is the biggest clinical study ever performed on electronic cigarettes, and the only one studying parameters of cardiac function.

 I would be honored if you could come to the presentation of the study tomorrow at 16:30 Munich time, in Athens-Village 3 room. You will see in full detail our results. Unfortunately the press office asked for only 5 slides to be presented during the press conference and we could not present the results in detail.

I would be happy to discuss with you in person all questions and thoughts you may have. Please feel free to contact me at any time.

 Thank you

Konstantinos Farsalinos, M.D.

The electronic cigarette was invented as a reduced-harm alternative to smoking tobacco.  The "dangers" that many anti-tobacco groups claim e-cigs MAY pose to users and bystanders simply don't exist.  Science has proven that inhaling burning tobacco is harmful.  Adult smokers who replace tobacco cigarettes with this device experience the same health benefits as someone who quits smoking.

Public Health officials who continue to discourage smokers from turning to products that are scientifically proven to be exponentially safer (e-cigs, Swedish snus, disolvables, etc.) are doing a huge disservice to public health.  Governments who include e-cigs in smoking bans, even though the vapor harms neither the user nor bystanders, are sending a message to smokers to keep smoking.  As more research is done, the results continue to confirm that these devices don't jeopardize bystanders.  Banning something that has already helped thousands of smokers become smoke-free is despicable. 

I smoked for 36 years and had given up on trying to quit.  Traditional methods like Chantix and the patch did not work.  Within a week of buying my first kit, not only was I not smoking, I had no desire to ever light up another cigarette.  That is something that no pharmaceutical product was able to do for me.  I have been tobacco-free for over two years, and I am disgusted and disappointed by anti-tobacco groups and government agencies that continue to ignore the reality of tobacco harm reduction.

As a former smoker, I encourage every smoker to do their own research, spend hours online reading both pro and con, and decide for themselves if it's worth trying.  I really didn't think it would work, but two years later, I can confidently say that it does work.  The anti groups may not care, the government may not care, but people like me in the vaping community do care. 

In regards to the study you may have read regarding the effects of electronic cigarettes on acute lung function, I highly recommend reading Dr. Michael Siegel's analysis -- http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-study-shows-that-in-contrast-to.html I applaud you for keeping an open mind about these products. My two year anniversary of quitting smoking and switching to e-cigarettes passed by a week and a half ago. Personally, I would love to see a study done where researchers locate 30-50 long-term (2 years plus) e-cigarette users who were experiencing health problems before starting e-cigarettes and have access to medical reports that documented their lung function, blood pressure, etc. The research could compare those results to those measured after long-term e-cigarette usage. The logistics may be tough and the medical value less so than a tightly-controlled, multi-year clinical trial, but considering that the cat is out of the bag and millions of people worldwide are using e-cigarettes, the faster that research is published and distributed, the better. I am a director with the nonprofit, all-volunteer Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association. I receive no compensation for my work and have never received compensation from any tobacco, e-cigarette, or pharmaceutical company.

Dr. Farsalinos, I am honored you read my post and really enjoyed your presentation today. I have made the corrections and my apologies for  the error. I wish you the best of luck in your future studies on this and other topics!

Melissa

Dr Shirley, i should congratulate you for the accurate and unbiased presentation. Thank you very much for your kind words and comments. Always staying at your disposal.

 

Melissa

I recently traveled by airplane and as usual before taking off the video recommendations were given (we know them by heart!) however for the first time (to my knowledge) it was mentioned that E cigarettes are forbidden. I didn't ask for which reason. Does anybody know why? 

Probably PNC (“Personnel Navigant Commercial”) can easily answer to my request but I have no one under my thumb at this moment.

I am always like your blogs and your good sens of humour.   thank you for these relaxing moments

Thanks Jean Pierre! I wonder if it has something to do with the burden of trying to ascertain from a distance who is smoking and who isn't. Another thought is "What if everyone suddenly decided they wanted to use an e-cigarette?" How much vapor would there be?  Perhaps it's the lithium battery issue? Good question and so glad you enjoy HEARTFELT!!!

 

Melissa, how much vapor would there be from a room full of people using e-cigarettes?  Most regular "vapers" intermittently use less than a teaspoon (5ml) of e-liquid per day as most devices produce between 3 and 10 watts.  Multiplied by 100 and it compares favorably with a typical theatrical fog machine that uses a quart or two of the same glycols and flavorants (sans the small percentage of nicotine) per hour running at well over 1000 Watts.  Also, keep in mind that even extremely high concentrations (well beyond what is possible for a roomful of vapers tooting away as fast as they can) of propylene glycol vapor is proven to be a powerful germicide and antibacterial with no known serious adverse effects--so few, in fact, that further research has been a low priority since the 1940's when tests were first conducted.  Research on smoke-free products' ability to reduce smoking is a bit of the cart pulling on the horse, instead I suggest that research be conducted on the potential for e-cigarettes to INCREASE the motivation to stop smoking and REDUCE the spread of airborne infectious disease.

I am a director with the nonprofit, all-volunteer Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association. I receive no compensation for my work and have never received compensation from any tobacco, e-cigarette, or pharmaceutical company. 

  

      i was hesitant to click on this email 'the trick if it could be played by cardiologist.'

 i am pleased to learn about this new development about a harmless, yet an effective      

way of quiting smoking. while warning my patients about smoking, i tell them,'we have   

treatment for every thing, except for smokoing.' now that e-cigarette has been devised, any attempts to oppose it at any level without a scientific reason, can be but from sick minds alone and need not be paid any heed to what so ever. but at the same time a long time follow up with an open mind, will be needed and should not be played down.

 

 New research (European Respiratory Society's Annual Congress in Vienna)  has shown that despite electronic cigarettes cause harm to the lungs. See: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120902113550.htm#.UEPPZldt6R0.facebook

The problem with current research is that they are not fair representations. There have been no studies with a comparison of long term usage of e-cigarettes compared with long term smoking. My personal opinion is that e-cigarettes must be a better alternative to smoking. Cigarettes contain, as we know, over 5000 harmful chemicals. E-cigs contain just 5 ingredients (yes, one of them is nicotine, unless opting for a 0mg dosage). I'm not saying there are no risks to 'vaping', and I believe that e-cigarettes should not be used as a long term habit but ONLY as a short term solution to helping smokers quit the cigarettes. I too commend you on your balanced views of e-cig's amongst the apparent propaganda and health scares out there currently!

 Thad, your facts about the number of vapers in a room to produce a harmful amount of vapour in the air are very reassuring. I think this is something that could concern people, particularly non-smokers & non-vapers. Thanks for clearing that one up.

 For anybody interested, I stumbled across an interesting infographic here  - it outlines some interesting stats, all be it from an e-cig company so perhaps a little biased but i think the "5000 sunrises" line is very effective, really hits home.

Regards,

Melanie

I would not tell your patients or anyone else that they are "harmless" Less harmful? Possibly. Studies show the ecig to cigarette bad health ratio 10 to 1. I am a supplier of these and have been for over 2 years. After a 20 year smoking habit, this has changed my life. So much so I opened up shop because I wanted others to ecperience what I did. The self regulation of ecigs is the reason it has been able to grow so much. Thousands of Americans are new small business owners workign form their home and stores are opening up all the time. We need MORE suppliers and storefronts  though. As an experienced vapers of 3 years, I must say I feel just as good now as I did a month after I Quit smoking. I had a CT scan and EKG that checked out perfect recently. It does slightly raise blood pressure. It certainly does not stink or produce second hand smoke. I can drive in the car for two hours with the wondows rolled up and it doesn't bother my non smoking wife a single bit. The main chemicals in the liquid are FDA approved Vegetable Glycerine, and/or FDA approved Propylene glycol, ROHS's approved safe level Nicotine, and food grade flavorings. But the liquid is vaporized. it is not liek you are drinking the liquid. (not advisable) The immediate short term effects of this product (short term meaning 3 years, personally) are outstanding. Learn More at CASAA.org 

CASAA - THE CONSUMER ADVOCATES FOR SMOKE-FREE ALTERNATIVES ASSOCIATION

If you dig a little deeper you'll find the research you talk of was totally biased nonsense. As a matter of fact it was sponsored by Pfizer, the big phramaceutical company who not only sell the expensive and far more dangerous quit smoking drug Chantix (check the scarily common side effects) alongside many other quit smoking aids.

Unfortunately we're likely to see more BS propoganda against e-cigs from big tobacco and the pharmaceutical industry until they've found a way to regulate & profit from them themselves. (ie tax)

http://www.prweb.com/releases/eecigarettesafety/conflicts/prweb9899020.htm 

The conclusion is this, big phrama and tobacco companies are running scared, because with electronic cigarettes we really do have a product that genuinely DOES help smokers quit, and, when compared to regular cigarettes or drugs like Chantix, they are relatively harmless and have minimal side effects.  

Here's another example, just a few months ago the Lorillard tobacco company aquired Blu e-cigs, one of the most popular e-cigarette brands in the US.  

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/5/prweb9536334.htm 

 

I actually started smoking analogs when I was 13. By the time I was 15 I was a pack and a half a day smoker. Finally, a month before my 45th birthday I started using the green smoke e-cigarette, that was 6 months ago, and I haven't had an analog since the first moment I recieved my Green Smoke. The e-cig is amazing! I, like many other addicted individuals tried everything over the years to quit to no avail untill the e-cig, now I breathe better, I sleep better, and I have alot more energy!! I feel alive again!! I wish that non smokers and the FDA would just stop putting something they don't understand down. My sister's doctor actually encouraged her to use her e-cigarette because it much improved her over all health and her high blood pressure is stableizing!! I will continue to use my e-cigarette and continue on with my improving health so the FDA and all the haters can just stay out of my business! Now that I use an e-cigarette, that's exactly what it is, MY BUSINESS, I'm not doing anything to effect the non smokers around me, not their health or my own so they should just leave me alone now.

The electronic cigarette is 100% legal to smoke indoors, in pubs, clubs, night clubs, offices etc. Electronic cigarettes come with refillable cartridges which are available in a wide range of flavors and nicotine strengths. You can get menthol, regular, apple and strawberry flavored cartridges and they are available in light, full, medium and zero nicotine strengths.

The elektrisk cigaret works like a charm and the best think with it is that you can smoke it almost everywere

They are safe and effective
I am not a smoker. However knowing the terrible complications of smoking I would seriously look at this alternative. Now, we have at least two year data on its efficacy and safety. That is more than what the FDA is requiring for approval of new drugs. Every piece of data there is on this product points out to its success. The only thing I see that stands in its way is the tobacco industry trying to bury it. They make trillions of dollars making smokers and their surrounding loved ones sick. I understand them not wanting products like this popular. I mean come on. Do we want to put these honest tobacco giants out of business?

electronic cigarette
Upon reflection the electronic cigarette is a healthier, cheaper and environmentally friendly alternative to smoking and as the awareness and the market grows they have great potential to successfully replace the harmful cigarettes we have all come to know and many of us have come to dread and fear.