Cigarettes: the facts, strategies for smoking cessation, e-cigarettes and vaping

Abstract

Abstract Cigarette smoking is a major public health concern and is responsible for over 7 million deaths worldwide annually. It is a major cause of cancer and non-malignant respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Tobacco is implicated in almost a fifth of deaths in the United States; a sobering statistic. This chapter shall explore the socioeconomic factors which underly smoking habits and shall discuss the pathophysiology of smoking-related diseases. The benefits of smoking cessation are numerous, including reduced cancer risk, improved lung function and an increased life expectancy. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological evidence-based smoking cessation therapies are available and shall be discussed and compared. The use of electronic cigarettes has become ubiquitous, but there are concerns around their safety and their efficacy as a potential smoking cessation aid. At the present time, traditional smoking cessation therapies should be considered first line.