Mailbag! More Bad News About E-Cigs

Heather Gorsuch By Heather Gorsuch Posted June 15, 2017

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

You’ve got questions…

We’ve got answers!

A while back, we answered your questions about cancer and e-cigarettes. (In case you missed it, e-cigs are loaded with carcinogens and are linked to bladder cancer. Surprise, surprise.)

Today, we are going to tackle another reader concern about e-cigs — DNA damage.

Let’s dive in…

Hey Natalie,

I recently read your article about how e-cigs might cause bladder cancer. It got me thinking about what else e-cigs can do to your body. I know regular tobacco cigarettes can damage your DNA. Do you know if e-cigs have the same effect?

Thanks in advance,

Peggy S.

Great question, Peggy.

You’re correct, tobacco smoking is linked to extensive DNA damage, which can speed up the aging process and even increase your risk of cancer.

And according to groundbreaking research from the University of Connecticut, e-cigs are just as dangerous.

In a recent lab study, scientists tested the liquid used in e-cigarettes on human DNA. They used liquid that contained nicotine and liquid that was nicotine-free.

After careful analysis, the researchers were shocked to find that the non-nicotine liquid caused as much damage to DNA as a filtered cigarette.

And the bad news only gets worse…

The nicotine liquid did as much damage as unfiltered cigarette.

This means that smoking an e-cig is no safer than puffing on a Marlboro when it comes to messing up your DNA.

Experts concluded that amount and duration of e-cig smoking play a role in the amount of DNA damage done, just like with tobacco smoking.

But there’s more to worry about — there are almost no regulations about what goes into the liquid cartridges that fuel them. So the additional chemicals in e-cigs could have the potential to cause more harm than conventional smoking.

Bottom line, e-cigs aren’t safe.

And you don’t have to wait around for more research to tell you so.

If you’re trying to quit smoking, try L-tryptophan. One study shows it can help reduce your anxiety and withdrawal symptoms when you decide to quit.

You can find L-tryptophan supplements at your local pharmacy.

Do you have health questions you want answered? Drop me a line: feedback@livingwelldaily.com.

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily

Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.

Sources

[1] Smoking causes extensive damage to DNA, study shows

[2] E-cigarettes potentially as harmful as tobacco cigarettes, UConn study shows

[3] L-Tryptophan: Basic Metabolic Functions, Behavioral Research and Therapeutic Indications