• March 29, 2024

Vaping a viable option to smoking

 Vaping a viable option to smoking

A new study indicates that 95 percent of Malaysian vapers have either quit or cut down on smoking, according to a story in The Star.

More than 80 percent of the vapers reported that their health had improved.

“More than two-thirds stopped smoking altogether,” said Greek cardiologist, Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos, in a recent interview in Kuala Lumpur. “Among the 27 percent that didn’t quit, the average consumption of cigarettes dropped from 19 to four a day.”

Farsalinos, a researcher at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center and University of Patras, said more than 7,000 adult vapers – 97 percent of whom were male – participated in the online survey, which was conducted in English and Malay. The average age of respondents was 30.

More than 5,500 ex-smokers and more than 1,500 people who smoke and vape were asked about their experiences with electronic cigarettes, and the responses were consistent with those obtained in the US and Europe.

“Malaysian vapers, like their global counterparts, generally use advanced e-cigs and were able to reduce their nicotine consumption gradually, feel healthier and eventually quit smoking,” Farsalinos said.