What Is an Electric Cigarette
An electric cigarette, or e-cigarette, is a battery powered device that heats liquid into an inhalable aerosol. The liquid often contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. Users may call the act vaping.
Are Electric Cigarettes Safe
Public health bodies state that e-cigarettes are less harmful than combustible cigarettes, but they are not risk free. Nicotine is addictive and can affect heart rate and blood pressure. Some aerosol ingredients may irritate lungs.
Long term safety data remain limited. Regulatory oversight varies by country, and product quality can differ widely. The World Health Organization provides guidance on nicotine and tobacco harm reduction at https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco.
Who Should Use or Avoid Them
Adult smokers who switch completely from cigarettes may reduce exposure to many toxicants. Non smokers, pregnant people, and youth should generally avoid e-cigarettes because of nicotine risks and unknown long term effects.
