Medscape is polling readers to find out what doctors are telling their patients about e-cigarettes.
Some studies suggest [e-cigarettes] may be a useful “off ramp” to help tobacco users kick the habit. Other studies suggest they may be an “on ramp” to tobacco use, especially for teens and young adults.
Adding to the confusion, safety data for the battery-operated nicotine inhalers are still evolving. Although some research indicates that using e-cigarettes, or “vaping,” is safer than smoking combustible cigarettes, a recent University of Pittsburgh study found two known carcinogens, otoluidine and 2-naphthylamine, in the urine of e-cigarette users but not in nonusers. This is a concerning finding for patients, who may be susceptible to developing bladder cancer, urologist and lead author of the study Thomas Fuller, MD, told Medscape Medical News.
Read more and take the poll at www.medscape.com
