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Tag: E-Cigarettes

Electronic or e-cigarettes also have adverse effects on your health. Quit tobacco with the help of hypnotherapy. Call Joseph Giove at 925-215-4017.

E-Cigarettes – One Million Times More Harmful Than Pollution?
According to a recent study by the Hong Kong Baptist University, e-cigarettes are one million times more harmful than breathing Hong Kong’s renowned air pollution. Let’s think about that for a minute. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world with almost 7.2 million people in a city that is a little more than 1,100 square kilometers in size. The city frequently experiences extreme air pollution, and there are even travel advisories issued to tourists due to the severity.

Now there is a report that the chemicals in e-cigarettes are one million times more harmful to your body than breathing the air in Hong Kong.

Why Are E-Cigarettes So Popular?

Hypnotherapist and smoking cessation expert Joseph R. Giove has 25 years of experience helping people quit smoking. He knows that people who are desperate to quit will look for any means necessary, including switching to e-cigarettes, which are often marketed as a safer alternative.

In this article we will discuss the following topics related to the recent rise in e-cigarette popularity:
- What are E-Cigarettes? Battery operated cigarettes that heat tobacco and other chemicals into a vapor which is then inhaled.
- What the Report from the Hong Kong Baptist University Says about E-Cigarettes: One million times more harmful than world renowned Hong Kong air pollution.
- The Chemicals Involved in Smoking E-Cigarettes, By the Numbers: Many of the same chemicals found in conventional cigarettes can be found in even higher concentrations in e-cigarettes.
- E-Cigarettes and their Popularity amongst Youth: Young people are being targeted by aggressive e-cigarette marketing techniques.
- Public Knowledge of E-Cigarette Dangers: E-cigarette research is in its infancy and accurate information is scarce a best.
- Hypnotherapy and How It Will Help You quit smoking: How hypnotherapy and Joseph R Giove can help you quit e-cigarettes.
What are E-Cigarettes?

The ‘E’ in e-cigarettes stands for ‘Electronic’, and they are battery operated heating devices that deliver flavored nicotine and other chemicals to the smoker using vapor instead of smoke. In most e-cigarettes, puffing activates the heating device, thereby releasing the vaporized, flavored liquid. This process is called ‘vaping’.

It is the chemicals that are added to the e-cigarettes that are now being studied, and there are some surprising findings. e-cigarettes have only been on the market for a short time, and as such, not much is known about their long term effects. There have been many conflicting reports about e-cigarettes, but as more studies are done it seems the health risks are significant and troublesome.

What the Report from the Hong Kong Baptist University Says about E-Cigarettes

The recent report from the Hong Kong Baptist University states that e-cigarettes are significantly more dangerous to your health than had been previously thought. More and more tests are being conducted to examine the health risks of using e-cigarettes, which are often marketed as a way to quit smoking conventional cigarettes.

These studies have been yielding some troubling results. There is a significant amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAH’s, in the most common e-cigarettes. PAH’s are a byproduct of burning petroleum, which can be detected in the air alongside streets and highways and are measured as a way to determine a city’s pollution level. An assistant professor of biology at the Hong Kong Baptist University was quoted saying to the South China Morning Post: “(The Level of PAH’s) in e-cigarettes is at least one million times more than roadside air in Hong Kong.”

The Chemicals Involved in E-Cigarettes: By the Numbers

The health effects of e-cigarettes are only just now being studied, and because of their relative newness, their long term effects cannot be accurately projected. However, the studies that have been done are producing some alarming results. While “vaping” appears to make the smoke less concentrated, it is still full of nicotine and carcinogens.

A recent study by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health analyzed 13 different types of e-cigarettes and found an array of dangerous chemicals:
- Levels of PAH’s ranging from 2.9 to 504.5 nanograms per milliliter
- Benzo(a)pyrene, a carcinogenic substance found in PAH’s, which, among other things, is a promoter of cancer cells.
- A chemical called polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDE’s, which is a flame retardant.
The addition of flame retardants to E-cigarettes is because they use heat to produce the vapor, and therefore need a flame retardant to keep them from catching fire or even exploding. PBDE’s are more commonly used in furniture and electronics for the purpose of inhibiting fire, and were detected in e-cigarettes in the range of 1.7 to 1,490 nanograms per milliliter.

For comparison, conventional cigarettes were in the range of 5.6 to 6.3 nanograms per milliliter of PAH’s. This means that some brands of e-cigarettes have 250 times more of this chemical, which promotes toxicity of the reproductive system and disrupts the thyroid hormone, than conventional cigarettes.

E-Cigarettes and their Popularity Amongst Youth

One of the main attractions of e-cigarettes is that the consumer can choose one or even a combination of flavors. Some of these flavors include: Lazy Hammock, Afternoon Delight, Third Base and White Gold. If you have ever gone to a bakery or a cocktail bar you can imagine the amount of flavors there are to choose from. Because of the near endless combination of flavors with fun names, e-cigarette companies are able to market to much younger potential consumers than conventional cigarettes. Youth are able to choose from flavors such as: Cupcake, Cotton Candy and Fruit Squirts.

Here we can see clearly that the big tobacco companies are targeting a youthful audience, possibly even younger than 18 years of age. The University of Hong Kong found that smokers aged 15-29 used e-cigarettes nearly 8{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577} of the time, which is significantly higher than users of any other age group.

Public Knowledge of E-Cigarette Dangers

In the same University of Hong Kong study, they found that 68{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577} of people surveyed in a six month study had absolutely no knowledge regarding the chemicals they were inhaling into their bodies. More research about the long term effects of e-cigarettes needs to be conducted, and more government regulations need to be enforced.

So far 16 countries have banned the sale, advertising, distribution, import and manufacturing of e-cigarettes. Studies from the Harvard School of Public Health are now finding that e-cigarettes and their flavoring are causing severe respiratory diseases due to the harmful chemical diacetyl, which is found in 3 quarters of all e-cigarettes. Diacetyl is a flavoring chemical used in e-cigarettes and their refill cartridges whose purpose is to appeal to a broader audience by enhancing flavor.

The fact of the matter is that e-cigarettes are still very new, and not enough is known about long or even short term health risks. Nevertheless, they are extremely popular, especially among youth despite their potential dangers.

Hypnotherapy and How It Will Help You quit smoking

There are many options on the market aimed at helping people quit smoking, but it has not yet been proven that e-cigarettes are a viable alternative to smoking, or that they provide any help for those wishing to quit.

There are both psychological and pharmaceutical methods available to aid in this endeavor, but so far the method with the least side effects and highest efficacy is clinical hypnotherapy. Joseph R. Giove has been successfully practicing hypnotherapy for over 25 years, and knows that its power can help you quit smoking forever. It’s time to live a healthy, smoke-free life, and e-cigarettes are certainly not the way to accomplish this.
March 30, 2016
E- Cigarettes – Not Such a Great Alternative?
Everyone knows the health risks of cigarettes. Stroke, blindness, cataracts, macular degeneration, periodontitis, aortic aneurysms, coronary heart disease, pneumonia, atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, asthma, diabetes, reproductive defects, hip fractures, ectopic pregnancy, erectile dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis, immune dysfunction, overall diminished health and causes 15 types of cancer. OK, so you might not have known about all those risks, but these are the facts presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As you can see, it is a long list of diseases, illnesses and cancers that have serious, life-threatening health effects. For the people that want to reduce, cut down or quit smoking there are a variety of options on the market aimed at helping you quit, such as nicotine patches or chewing gums, e-cigarettes or hypnotherapy, which has proven to be incredibly effective method.

As a health professional who has been working in the field of smoking cessation for over 25 years, clinical hypnotherapist Joseph R. Giove is particularly concerned about the growing trend of e-cigarettes. He notes that he has seen a rise in clients coming to him for help after failed attempts at quitting smoking using methods such as switching to e-cigarettes.

In this article we will discuss the following points related to e-cigarettes and the myth that they aid in efforts to quit smoking conventional cigarettes:
- What are E-Cigarettes? Tobacco, flavor compounds and assorted chemicals that when heated become an inhalable vapor.
- ‘‘Popcorn Lung’ and other diseases related to E-cigarettes: Several studies have linked e-cigarettes to serious lung trauma.
- The Problem with E-Cigarette Flavors: Fun flavors such as ‘Cotton Candy’ attract a significantly younger audience than conventional cigarettes.
- Chemicals in E-Cigarettes: Potentially significantly higher concentrations than conventional cigarettes.
- Marketing E-Cigarettes: E-cigarette companies face few marketing restrictions.
- Health and Hypnotherapy Information: Studies and why Joseph R. Giove and hypnotherapy is a very useful tool to quit smoking
What are E-Cigarettes?

E-cigarettes are a nicotine delivery system, and function by heating flavored nicotine and other chemicals electronically, just enough to vaporize. Puffing an e-cigarette activates the heating device which vaporizes flavored liquid which the user then inhales. This process is called ‘vaping’. It is the aforementioned chemicals that have been added to the nicotine that are now being investigated, and the results are shocking.

The ‘Popcorn Lung’ Effect

One of the more serious side-effects of E- Cigarettes is something called the “Popcorn Lung.” It gets its name from the effects that first appeared in workers in microwave popcorn factories. In these factories they also produced the artificial butter accompaniment, and it was chemicals from this which led to workers contracting what is now known as ‘Popcorn Lung’. The link between ‘Popcorn Lung’ (also called bronchiolitis obliterans) and e-cigarettes was recently discovered by the Harvard School of Public Health.

Troublingly, e-cigarettes are perceived by many to be a safe alternative to cigarettes, and are gaining popularity. However, this Harvard School of Public Health report suggests that e-cigarettes are linked to the “Popcorn Lung” effect and are not actually a safe alternative to conventional cigarettes.

Popcorn Lung is a debilitating and irreversible respiratory disease. As previously mentioned, this disease is similar to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This causes small scarring in tiny air sacs inside the lungs that lead to shortness of breath and intense coughing. Basically, the chemicals that are found in e-cigarettes are restricting the blood and oxygen flow in the lungs.

The Problem with E-Cigarette Flavors

Another troubling problem with e-cigarettes is that they are flavored, often with fun and tasty sounding names such as Cotton Candy, Fruit Squirts and Cupcake. This is troubling for the following reasons:
- Big tobacco companies are targeting a younger market, perhaps even those under the age of 18.
- A source from the CDC illustrates that since 2011, e-cigarette smoker rates have skyrocketed from 2{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577} of adolescents to nearly 15{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577} in 2014.
- In that same time, conventional cigarette smokers decreased from 16{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577} to 9{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577} for the same age group.
It is not hard to see that the big tobacco companies have found a new way to get the youth of a new generation addicted to their product.

Chemicals in E-Cigarettes

The same Harvard study we previously referenced found at least one of the three extremely toxic chemicals found in regular cigarettes in over 50 flavors of e-cigarettes. The chemicals are diacetyl, acetoin and 2,3 pentanedione. In a quote from the report, author Joseph Allen says “the amount of diacetyl in 39 of the e-cigs exceeded the amount that was detectable by the laboratory.”

This is definitely a troubling statistic. If the amount exceeds what we are even able to measure, than how much of these chemicals are actually in these e-cigarettes?

The tests results regarding e-cigarettes are only just now becoming available, and they are showing the risks associated with e-cigarettes are at least equivalent, and in some cases worse than conventional cigarettes. Tobacco smoking is in fact less harmful than smoking e-cigarettes because of the additives that make their way into those e-cigarettes.

“Vaping” an e- cigarette may seem like a healthier alternative to a conventional cigarette, but they contain many of the same chemicals, as well as additional chemicals. One of these, which is found in the flavoring component of e-cigarettes, is formaldehyde, and will therefore not only cause addiction but also severe lung damage.

Marketing E-Cigarettes

There has been an aggressive attempt by tobacco companies to get younger people to buy e-cigarettes. Since the government has not put many restrictions on the sale and production of e-cigarettes, they are taking this opportunity to target youth. Teen use alone has tripled since 2014, mostly due to the flavors that are offered by e-cigarette companies. In April 2014 the United States Food and Drug Administration proposed banning the sale of e-cigarettes to people under the age of 18.

The problem is that because e-cigarettes are so new, there is insufficient data to sway lawmakers to take action at the federal level. At the state level, 46 States have enacted laws that will prevent the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and a further 12 now require childproof packaging.

Despite recent attempts by the United States government to curb advertisement of e-cigarettes to minors, websites like YouTube still host them. YouTube claims that at least 90{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577} of e-cigarette ad viewers are over 18, and will not take down their advertising unless that number drops below 85{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577}. Considering how many people use sites like YouTube, we can see that there are still an enormous number of youth that are being actively marketed to.

Health and Hypnotherapy Information

Youth and adults alike are not receiving proper health information regarding the risks associated with e-cigarettes. They are clearly not a viable alternative to conventional cigarettes, nor are they a useful tool to quit smoking.

One of the most effective tools for those wishing to quit smoking is the proven method of hypnotherapy. Posing no additional risk factors such as increased carcinogen or chemical intake, Joseph R. Giove and clinical hypnotherapist therapy gently rewire your brain so you are no longer falsely dependent on cigarettes, allowing you to live a healthier, smoke-free lifestyle.
March 23, 2016
Where Does Nicotine Come From?
In today’s world, with health news and research being presented regularly and a newfound focus among most in the country towards healthier lifestyles, it’s no surprise that most of us are fully aware of how dangerous smoking can be. After all, studies constantly find that things like heart disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases are all linked directly to the use of cigarettes – there are more than 4,000 toxic chemicals in every puff you take.

Among the various chemicals and compounds found in cigarettes is one that most are vaguely aware of – nicotine. But at Joseph R. Giove Clinical Hypnosis, I’ve noticed that nicotine itself is somewhat misunderstood. How it works, what its role in a smoker’s life is, and where it comes from are all things that aren’t often completely known by smokers. That’s something worth changing.

What Is It?

First, we need to understand the basics of nicotine in cigarettes and smokers. Nicotine is a type of compound that is now classified as a drug due to the impact it has on the brain’s natural chemistry. When it is smoked, the lungs absorb it through their mucus membranes and it passes through the bloodstream and into the brain within about seven seconds. Once in the brain it triggers the release of a variety of compounds such as dopamine that relax the user and elicit feelings of calm.

It’s also incredibly addictive, having the same addictive qualities as drugs like heroin and cocaine. As such, smokers become dependent on the drug quickly.

Where Does It Come From?

Nicotine is actually a naturally occurring compound that is found within tobacco and within other plants within the nightshade family. It’s a type of alkaloid, which is a chemical containing nitrogen. While it generally occurs naturally in tobacco plants, some nicotine is artificially produced for certain uses.

Today’s tobacco plants have been bred and genetically modified to produce higher levels of nicotine, primarily to help increase the addictive nature of the cigarettes. In certain products the nicotine will be artificial, such as electronic cigarettes and nicotine patches.

While nicotine is commonly thought of as the primary component of tobacco, it’s important to remember that it’s also one of the most dangerous and deadly natural poisons found in the world. In fact, for years it was used widely as a type of insecticide due to the fact that it is an antiherbivore chemical – a compound that kills plant-eating insects. This natural defense mechanism is also a key part of why nicotine is so dangerous.

The idea of nicotine being a natural ingredient can seem silly, but it’s very true – the key is to remember that natural doesn’t always mean ‘healthy’ and in this case it’s the exact opposite. Found naturally in the plant, nicotine is still very toxic and highly dangerous, not only because of its addictive nature.

Where Do Nicotine Addicts Get Their Nicotine?

It’s worth looking at the other side of the question of where does nicotine come from, too. You now know where the substance is originally found, but extending that question means understanding where it’s found in the retail world. In other words, where someone who is a nicotine user gets their nicotine ‘fix’ from. There are three primary sources of nicotine today:
- Tobacco Products – The obvious answer is tobacco, in particular smoking. The mucus membranes of the lungs are very delicate and absorb nicotine quickly. A smoker will absorb plenty of the drug with each puff of a cigarette. Smokeless tobacco is absorbed through the mucus membranes of the mouth, where it is absorbed and enters the blood stream in a similar manner.
- Smoking Cessation Aids – Things like stop-smoking gums and nicotine patches contain nicotine as well. These aids are designed to help smokers put down the cigarettes, but the fact is that users are still exposed to nicotine and the various risks associated with it. There are numerous health risks associated directly with nicotine use, and as such it’s important to understand that despite the fact that you may not be smoking, you’re still impacting your health.
- Electronic Cigarettes – These are becoming incredibly popular due to the promise that they’re safer than smoking cigarettes. E-cigs, vape units, or whatever else you want to call them certainly do have fewer cancer causing chemicals in them, but the studies are finding that they aren’t entirely safe. And since you’re still ingesting nicotine, you’re still experiencing the negative health effects that can come with it.
The Dangers Of Nicotine

Now you know where nicotine comes from and where nicotine addicts obtain it. But what about the dangers? It’s true that the evidence currently doesn’t support the claims that nicotine can directly cause cancer like the other chemicals in cigarette smoke, but nicotine can have its own risks. These potential dangers range in severity from mild to severe and involve virtually every system within the body. Some examples of the health risks of nicotine include the following.
- Nicotine narrows the arteries. This can lead to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular damage as well as reduced blood flow moving to various parts of the body.
- It can lead to several gastrointestinal problems ranging from diarrhea to heartburn to nausea to ulcers.
- Hormonal functions can be changed as well. In particular, insulin production is increased as is the body’s resistance to it.
- Numerous heart related problems are linked to nicotine including blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and more.
- Dizziness, irritability, headaches, and other similar problems can occur as a result of using nicotine and as a result of stopping the use of it when addicted to it.
- Pregnant women who ingest nicotine place their children at risk of numerous problems including obesity, diabetes, respiratory problems, and more.
Simply put, nicotine is still a very dangerous drug that is as difficult to quit as heroin. As such, it’s important to take the right steps to stopping its use entirely. There are plenty of options for doing so, but just be sure that you understand that stopping smoking with nicotine-based aids isn’t reducing all of your health risks.
March 10, 2016
Stop Smoking Fake Cigarettes
Ask any medical professional – and most Americans – what the keys to a healthy life are and they’ll likely name off things like diet and exercise. But high on that list will probably be a life free of smoking.

It’s no secret that smoking cigarettes is something that directly impacts your health and wellness – it’s been linked to cancer, heart disease, and more. There’s no way to argue that it’s not bad for you, to put it simply. That’s a leading part of why so many have stopped smoking. In fact, teen smoking has reached the lowest levels in years and more and more people are putting down the smokes for good.

There are a lot of different tools out there people have employed, and while I firmly believe that here at Joseph R. Giove Clinical Hypnosis my hypnosis therapy is the single best way to stop, it’s worth mentioning some of the other options. These include things like patches, gum, and – most recently – electronic cigarettes.

While those fake cigarettes have become increasingly popular in the country and have indeed helped many stop smoking cigarettes, the reality is that they also bring plenty of risks with them including many that we may not fully understand just yet.

It’s important to take a closer look at electronic cigarettes and why you need to stop smoking them as well as traditional cigarettes. Once you understand why, you’ll be able to see why hypnosis therapy is a great option for anyone ready to break free of their habits.

What Are Electronic Cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes, often just called ‘e-cigs’, are designed to simulate smoking in a number of ways. They look pretty much like the real thing, with an end that glows when you inhale and an exhalation of ‘smoke’ that’s actually vapor. Many of the latest models are larger, looking like boxes with a nozzle that you use to take a puff from.

No matter the shape or the style, these e-cigs work the same way at their most basic. Inside each one is a battery that powers a heating element. This is connected to a cartridge holding a liquid mixture of nicotine and various flavorings. When the fluid is heated it turns to vapor which is then inhaled like a traditional cigarette’s smoke would be.

Why Are They So Popular?

The main reason that e-cigs became so popular so quickly is simple – they allow users to get their daily ‘fix’ of nicotine without using a cigarette to do so. Since nicotine itself isn’t directly linked to cancer, the idea is that electronic cigarettes are a safer alternative to smoking and that they are the best new way to stop smoking. But that’s not entirely true.

Fake Cigarettes Are Still Dangerous

The medical community is still divided on e-cigarette usage. But the facts don’t lie, and there are several things to consider where these e-cig devices are concerned. The respiratory system is very delicate, and the mucus membranes within it quickly and easily absorb virtually anything passing through them. As a result, e-cigs could expose your body to a lot of chemicals that impact your health. There are numerous risks worth thinking about where e-cigs are concerned including the following.
- There are absolutely no FDA evaluations as to what is in the chemicals in a particular e-cig. In other words, your mixture could contain a huge range of chemicals you may not be aware of and that can cause significant health issues.
- Studies haven’t been done yet into the long term effects of electronic cigarette use simply because they’re so new to the market. It’s too early to know what kind of long term health risks come with these devices, but let’s face it – you’re inhaling chemicals into your body, and the odds are that this can have serious long term repercussions.
- Another key thing to think about is that when using an e-cig, you’re still delivering nicotine to your body. While the studies haven’t linked nicotine to cancer, it does still have a major impact on your health including a greater risk of heart disease, increased blood pressure, and more.
- What studies have been done into e-cigs have found that while they don’t contain as many carcinogens as traditional cigarettes, they do still contain carcinogens that could impact your health in the short and long term.
- Since electronic cigarettes contain nicotine, they can be just as addictive as traditional cigarettes. You may switch one for the other, but you’re still left with an addiction that is impacting your life tremendously.
With no government oversight and little research done into electronic cigarettes, the reality of the situation is that while they look cool, offer a variety of flavors, and can help you stop smoking traditional cigarettes, these are still something that can directly lead to health issues and as such they should be avoided. Add in the fact that e-cigs aren’t cheap and it becomes clear that you need to take steps to stop.

Stop Smoking ANY Kind Of Cigarette

So by now it’s probably apparent that smoking any kind of cigarette – real or fake – isn’t something that’s good for your health. Stopping smoking entirely is important, but it’s not something that’s easy to do. That’s a big part of why so many people actually turn to these e-cigs. They offer a path away from traditional cigarettes.

But the health risks and the costs of smoking electronic cigarettes can’t be ignored, and taking steps to stop smoking everything is worth doing. Luckily, hypnosis is a proven option that can help you do just that. Numerous studies have looked into the effectiveness of hypnotherapy, and the experts agree that the results are real.

Best of all, hypnosis works without placing your body at risk of being harmed by any kind of carcinogen or chemical. The power of suggestion can help your mind rewire itself and make it easy to put down traditional cigarettes and throw out those e-cigs for good. In other words, it’s an all-natural and highly effective way to stop smoking and start enjoying a healthier life.
March 1, 2016
E Cigarettes And Spitting Up Blood
Smoking has been part of this country for centuries. After all, tobacco farms were part of the earliest economy in the nation. But today, things are changing. Medical science has recognized the numerous dangers associated with smoking and most Americans have taken steps to stop smoking. Teen use of cigarettes is lower than ever, and the number of people using them in general is falling annually.

But along with the decline in smoking traditional cigarettes has come a dramatic rise in the number of people using electronic cigarettes. Also called e-cigarettes or e-cigs, these devices are marketed as a safer way to stop smoking. And thanks to the marketing and the various flavors offered, these trendy devices are growing in popularity among everyone – including teens.

But are they really safe? There are plenty of things you need to understand about these e-cigs including the fact that many users report spitting up blood after use. That’s just one issue, but it’s one that can be incredibly alarming. At Joseph R. Giove Clinical Hypnosis, I think it’s important to take a closer look at these devices and why when you’re ready to stop smoking, hypnosis is a better option.

What Is An E Cigarette And How Does It Work?

First, you’ll want to learn the basics of what an e-cigarette is. These units are either shaped like a cigarette, or shaped somewhat like a pipe with a large box-like chamber with a thin column coming out of it. Either way, they work with the same basic principle.

A chamber within the e-cig is filled with a liquid mixture including nicotine and a compound similar to water. Flavorings ranging from mint to cotton candy and beyond may be added as well. When the user takes a ‘drag’ from the electronic cigarette, a battery activates a heating element which vaporizes the fluid inside. The resulting vapor is inhaled like one would inhale smoke from a cigarette.

The idea is that since you’re inhaling only vapor and nicotine, these are a safer option than traditional smoking. But while there are fewer carcinogens found within the e-cigarette vapor so far, there are still risks that have been found – and more likely will be uncovered in the future.

E Cigarette Use And Spitting Up Blood

One problem that many e-cigarette users report experiencing is spitting up blood after use – whether short term or long term. This issue can also occur with traditional smoking, and some online forums suggest that the blood and phlegm being coughed up is actually caused by your body getting rid of the remnants of your smoking past, not by the electronic cigarette itself.

But consider some of the following reasons that an e-cig can cause you to spit up blood and you’ll see that it goes beyond just ‘I used to smoke’ as an excuse.
- The lungs and the mucus membranes within them and your airways are incredibly sensitive. Not only will they quickly absorb compounds that they come into contact with, but they can also be damaged easily. The chemicals in some vape mixes can cause damage fast.
- For many, the flavorings are a major draw of e-cigs. But there are some that can irritate the mucus membranes significantly, and some people may actually have allergies to the different ingredients. These irritants can cause the bleeding to occur as well.
- In some instances there have been reports of e-cigs overheating. If this occurs the vapor you inhale could be much hotter than normal, and may damage the mucus membranes of the lungs and airways. This may result in coughing or spitting up blood.
- Irritation from coughing due to vapor inhaled may also damage the airways and the lungs. This can trigger the problem of spitting up blood as well.
- The respiratory system is very delicate and as a result it can easily become infected. When you expose it to chemicals and irritants like those found in electronic cigarettes, you can worsen those infections dramatically. These infections can lead to significant problems as well.
All in all, your respiratory health is directly related to how you take care of yourself and your body. While e-cigs might very well be safer than cigarettes – and the evidence isn’t conclusive on that yet – the fact remains that every puff you take off an e-cig is putting your body at risk of damage. That damage can directly lead to spitting up blood.

The Problem With The Research

There’s a big problem when you start looking at e-cig related research that needs to be addressed as well. That problem is simple – the evidence is too new. There haven’t been nearly enough studies into e-cigs yet. However, the research that has been done has uncovered that they’re not as safe as once thought. In fact, just the flavorings used in them have been found to contain multiple types of cancer causing compounds.

And because electronic cigarette use is still so new, it’s too early to know about the long term effects of these products. There are ongoing studies happening now, but at the moment we’re just not sure how they will impact the health and wellness of users on a long term basis. Some additional research may uncover more reasons that spitting up blood could occur from e cig use.

Stopping Matters

Simply put, stopping smoking is one of the best steps you can take for your health. But that includes all types of smoking – even electronic cigarette use. As such it’s important that you consider taking the right steps towards a healthier you.

Spitting up blood is cause for concern for sure, and could be a sign of an even more serious problem. E-cigarettes can irritate the airways dramatically and as a result of this, they’re not a ‘stop smoking safely’ option. Instead, consider using natural and highly effective methods of putting down the smokes for good. Hypnosis is one option that is backed by decades of research, and one that’s much healthier than the e-cigarette can ever be – and you won’t have to worry about spitting up blood when you use it, either.
February 3, 2016
Does E-Cigarette Smoking Affect Your Lungs?
There is, at this point, no argument within the medical community or the public at large that smoking cigarettes can seriously impact your health in a negative way. Smoking has one of the largest negative influences on your health possible, and it’s important to stop smoking if you’re already a smoker.

To stop smoking, however, many people are turning to the use of electronic cigarettes, also called e-cigs or e-cigarettes for short. These devices are supposed to replicate the act of smoking and provide the body with the nicotine it’s addicted to, but without the hazardous chemicals found in traditional cigarettes.

And the basic data explains why it’s such a popular option. After all, cigarette smoke contains about 4,000 toxic chemicals and every puff you take pulls those cancer causing agents into your lungs. E-cigs, the argument goes, don’t have all those carcinogens. You’re exposing yourself only to water vapor and nicotine.

But is this really accurate? Does e-cigarette smoking affect your lungs? The answer should be obvious, but it’s one I get here at Joseph R. Giove Clinical Hypnosis often. As such, I think it’s time to take a closer look at the subject to help you understand more about just why you need to rethink your position on e-cigs.

Your Lungs

First, let’s start with a brief point to understand about your lungs and airways. The respiratory system is made up of a large number of mucus membranes, from your sinuses to your lungs and all points in between. These mucus membranes are incredibly delicate and easily absorb almost any compound that they come in contact with. In other words, each puff off of an e-cig means that you’re putting what’s in those e-cigs into your lungs, and that your respiratory system is absorbing the compounds and chemicals within them.

What Is An E-Cig?

Now we need to look at the e-cigarette itself. E-cigs are small units that are made up of a battery, heating element, and cartridge. The cartridge contains a liquid mixture made up of flavoring, nicotine, and some liquid that vaporizes easily, usually propylene glycol. Advertisements suggest that it’s just ‘water vapor’ you’re inhaling, but that’s not entirely accurate.

When you take a drag on the e-cig, the battery switches the heating element on. This heat vaporizes the liquid, and the vapor that you inhale is the resulting cloud of ‘smoke’ that you see being exhaled. The various flavors are part of why about 2.5 million teens try these e-cigs, and why they’re so popular among adults as well.

E-Cigarette Smoking And Your Lungs

Now that you understand the basics behind your lungs and their mucus membranes – and the basics of e-cigs – you should be able to understand why the assumption that e-cigs are safe isn’t a good one to make. The reason is obvious. You’re still breathing in large amounts of chemicals and exposing your lungs to them. In fact, the amount of vapor inhaled from certain e-cigs is surprisingly large.
Sadly, e-cigs are still so new that long-term studies haven’t been completed yet. What research does exist is gradually starting to reveal some disturbing facts. Here’s a look at some of the things you need to consider.
- You’re still putting nicotine into your body. And while there hasn’t been an increased risk of cancer found with e-cigs and nicotine, the drug can damage arteries, increase the chance of heart attacks, and increase blood pressure. Additionally, nicotine is the addictive substance found in smoking. Not only can it damage your lungs, but it can keep you hooked on the use of e-cigs.
- There is no FDA regulation on e-cigs and their ingredients. As such, your lungs could be exposed to a wide range of chemicals that could damage them in significant ways. There’s no way to know for sure what is in an e-cig cartridge or mixture since there are no regulations in place.
- A 2014 study found that aerosol from high-voltage e-cigs contains higher levels of formaldehyde. This carcinogen can cause cancer and have other health impacts on your lungs as well as the rest of your body.
- Several other cancer causing chemicals have been found in studies, though the specific chemicals in an e-cig varies from product to product due to the aforementioned lack of FDA regulations.
- The most recent study, completed in 2015, found that the actual flavorings used in e-cigarettes were particularly dangerous. Chemicals linked to respiratory disease and lung cancer have been found in 47 out of 51 flavors tested in the study. In short, these flavors are a main draw of ‘vaping’, but actually also serve as one of the biggest dangers.
Add to this the fact that most medical experts and researchers agree that there isn’t enough evidence to determine for sure what kind of long term damage e-cigarette smoking can cause, and it becomes clear that your lungs could be paying a heavier price than you realize whenever you use an e-cigarette. They may be safer than traditional cigarettes, but that’s not really saying much.

Additionally, those who are already at risk of health issues like those suffering from lupus or other immune or respiratory-specific illnesses need to remember that e-cigs can make their conditions even worse.

Quitting Nicotine Is Possible

Whether you picked up e-cigs to stop smoking traditional cigarettes or have always been an e-cig user and nothing else, it’s important to remember that there you can stop. Nicotine is the primary reason that people are addicted to smoking any kind of cigarette – electronic or traditional – and breaking free of nicotine addiction is important for them to do.

Hypnotherapy offers a way to do just that, and to do so without the risk of health conditions, lung damage, or any other similar problem occurring. Studies have found that hypnosis can work to help improve your ability to stop smoking, and the power of mental suggestion is something that can directly lead to improved health and wellbeing. If you’re serious about improving your life, don’t’ look for bubble gum flavored e-cigs. Look at a viable option that will actually work.
January 20, 2016
Electronic Cigarettes And Lupus

Head out into public and within a few minutes there’s a very good chance that you’ll see at least one or two people puffing away on an electronic cigarette. Humans have always had a fascination with smoking, it seems, and over the years it’s evolved from pipes to cigarettes and cigars and now to our modern version of smoking – vaping.

While it’s marketed as a safer alternative to cigarettes, vaping – the use of electronic cigarettes – does still have health risks to consider, and the research is too young to accurately determine what kind of a long term impact electronic cigarettes can have on your health. Those with existing health issues will likely find that e-cigs could continue to cause them additional trouble that traditional cigarettes did. A perfect example of this is lupus, and at Joseph R. Giove Clinical Hypnosis I’ve regularly seen the impact of e-cigs on those with disorders like lupus.

As such, I think it’s worth taking a closer look at this subject in order to show just how important it is to find alternative options for smoking cessation – and why hypnosis is a great option for doing just that.

Electronic Cigarettes

First, we’ll begin with understanding the basics of electronic cigarettes. E-cigs are generally shaped either like a traditional cigarette or with a larger box at the bottom of the unit with a nozzle leading upwards. One design looks like a cigarette, the other resembles a pipe in some aspects.

No matter the design, they work similarly. Cartridges with a liquid mixture of nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals – usually propylene glycol – are loaded into the unit. When a ‘drag’ from the e-cig is taken the chemicals are heated up and turned to vapor, which is then inhaled like a regular puff from a cigarette.

They’re marketed as a safe alternative to traditional smoking since many of the carcinogens present in cigarette smoke are missing. But research done into them has been very minimal and still suggests numerous health risks. Additionally, the long term health risks are unknown and there is reason to believe that in the future, a wide range of additional health issues may be linked to e-cigs.

Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can damage a wide range of the body. Essentially, those with lupus suffer because their body’s immune system attacks the organs and tissues within it – your body is attacking health cells and tissues. This can lead to rashes, inflammation, increased infections, fatigue, joint pain, and more. In severe cases it can cause significant health problems to occur.

Unfortunately, lupus is a disease that still isn’t’ fully understood. Causes aren’t entirely known and treatment generally focuses on controlling symptoms instead of curing the disease. As such, it’s a serious condition and doing all that you can to manage and control it is important.

Lupus And Smoking

A lot of research has been done into the dangers of smoking, and some of it has focused on how it impacts lupus sufferers. The medical community agrees that stopping smoking will have the biggest positive impact on lupus possible.

The big reason is that those with lupus are at increased risk of infections, and respiratory infections are the most common types of infections that they develop. On their own, smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of developing bronchitis and pneumonia. When a lupus sufferer smokes, that risk is only increased further.

The other dangers are directly associated with the fact that lupus sufferers are already at an increased risk for health issues that smoking can cause. This includes cardiac disease and heart attacks – lupus patients are at a greater risk of heart disease, and smoking only makes this worse. The same goes for the circulatory system, the kidneys, and the liver.

In short, lupus patients who smoke are increasing their risks of health conditions dramatically due to the combination of their medical condition and the health impact of smoking. It’s a dangerous connection and one that needs to be addressed.

What About E-Cigs?

The general argument for e-cigs is simple – they’re not cigarettes, and as such they provide nicotine in a much safer method of action. But the reality is that the mucus membranes of the respiratory system are incredibly delicate and easily absorb chemicals and compound that touch them. Each puff from an e-cig places a variety of chemicals within the respiratory system.

A lupus sufferer already has a weekend immune system and are more likely to develop respiratory problems, and when a drag from an e-cig is taken it makes it more likely that those illnesses will develop. Despite the supposed ‘safety’, it’s still a risk – especially when you’re suffering from lupus.

Add this to the fact that e-cigs haven’t been fully tested for long-term effects and the fact that there is no FDA approval needed and it becomes clear that lupus sufferers need to avoid e-cigs completely for the sake of their health.

What Can Be Done?

Stopping smoking doesn’t have to mean picking up an electronic cigarette. There are options that can allow you to break free of smoking entirely and focus your attention on coping with lupus. At Joseph R. Giove Clinical Hypnosis, I use a drug free approach to helping patients stop smoking for good.

The key is understanding the power of the mind and using mental suggestion to rework the way that your mind thinks and works. It sounds simple, and at its basic level it is. But it’s something that is only possible with the help of an experienced hypnotherapist due to the process involved.

Lupus sufferers need to stop smoking, and they need to do so entirely – not just by continuing to smoke in a different form. And when you consider the health impacts that smoking can have on anyone’s health, it becomes clear that hypnosis is something everyone who smokes should consider. It’s been proven to be effective, and thousands of people have been able to put down their smokes for good thanks to my help. It’s worth trying for yourself.

January 17, 2016

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