14 December 2025

Tobacco Cigarettes vs Electronic Cigarettes

There are several differences between electronic cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes, as well as their effects on health.

1. Nicotine Content
   Basically, the amount of nicotine in e-cigarettes is indeed lower than that in traditional tobacco cigarettes. However, the health effects of other substances contained in e-cigarettes still need further research, so they cannot yet be declared safer than tobacco cigarettes.
2. Addictive Effects
   One of the reasons why e-cigarettes became a trend is because they were considered a way to quit smoking tobacco. However, this is not necessarily true. Some studies have also stated that the addictive effect of e-cigarettes is equal to or even stronger than that of tobacco cigarettes.
3. Smoke Produced
   Several studies so far have stated that the smoke from both e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes can negatively affect health, especially for pregnant women and their fetuses. Cigarette smoke is known to increase the risk of heart disease, impaired lung function, and cancer, particularly if inhaled over a long period.
4. Serious Health Risks
   It cannot be denied that both e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes can cause various types of diseases, such as cancer and heart disease.

However, in addition to these illnesses, the use of e-cigarettes is now also known to cause a lung problem called EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury). This condition can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, dizziness, and headaches.

EVALI has even caused dozens of deaths in the United States and is more commonly found in people who frequently use e-cigarettes. From the explanations above, it is clear that both e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes are equally harmful, both in terms of their content and their impact on health.

Reviewed by: dr. Innosensius Ibnu Ishwara, M.K.K.

Source: Alodokter Health Article

Photo: freepik.com