Problem
Cigarette smoking was once considered a benign and fashionable way to inhale nicotine. In the mid-twentieth century, studies began reporting the many health effects and associated diseases with the regular practice of smoking. Since then, many federal, state, and local authorities have regulated the sale of cigarettes and their use has been banned in many public and private settings. A new method for the delivery of nicotine (and other substances) has been introduced in the form of E-cigarettes.
Chapter 20 of the textbook provides a comparison of the two sources of inhalable nicotine: traditional cigarettes and E-cigarettes and an overview of the anatomy and physiology of breathing. The following video provides an overview of electronic cigarettes and how their use has changed the nicotine industry as well as their potential consequences: E-cigarettes video.
How does inhaling smoke or vapor interfere with the process of gas exchange in the lungs? What are 2 specific diseases (1 pulmonary and 1 cardiovascular) and other health impacts associated with smoking? Discuss whether you think e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes and if e-cigarettes should be regulated in the same way as traditional cigarettes. Be sure to explain your position.