One of the primary reasons why people smoke is said to be to reduce or relieve stress. However, a smoker’s stress may be alleviated by tobacco cigarettes, yet the smoker is exposed to other more serious life-threatening conditions.  It is in this regard where electronic cigarettes can be considered as a rewarding alternative.  When terrorists attacked and caused havoc in the 9/11 incident, the American Population was incidentally reported to demonstrate smoking changes.

Smoking Changes Related To The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention performed a study of more than 1.6 million Americans concerning the US smoking trends from 1994 until 2004.  Data from this study were included in another analysis performed by Michael Pesko of Weill Cornell Medical College, which examined the smoking variations of the population associated with the 9/11 attacks.

From 2003 to 2011, the number of self-reported stress incidents showed 11% increase, not considering if the person was close or far from the attacks.  It was during the same time when the number of reached 1.3 million from 950,000. This is said to be caused by ex-smokers reverting to the habit.

The problem that this study attempted to resolve or give light to is when the whole population is subjected to stressful situation such as terrorism attacks, the health of the public is often observed to decline or suffer.  After the attacks, many American women suffered from miscarriages of male babies (male fetuses are more fragile than females). Trauma is not the only aftermath of 9/11.

Other studies were conducted ten years after the attacks and it was found that many people exposed to the disaster that struck upon the World Trade Center are healthy, there are still thousands of individuals (inclusive of rescuers, recovery/cleanup workers and residents/students in Lower Manhattan present during the 9/11 incident) were observed with chronic physical and mental conditions.

Based on the data Pesko gathered, he assumed that the smoking re-uptake was the population’s way of coping with stress. Nicotine is an addictive substance from tobacco cigarettes whose effects are recognized by some as stress relievers.  Nicotine is so addictive that smokers probably remained smoking despite many years after the attacks.

Experts may have rendered their knowledge that nicotine as stress reliever is actually a myth. According to them, nicotine hit from smoking does not reduce the stress, but actually makes the smoker consume more cigarettes.  Despite experts’ explanations, an individual who actually feels better after smoking would most likely give credit to the improvements he/she feels than what experts say (who might not be in the same situation as the person involved).  This is why despite the warnings; smokers still continue their smoking habit.

Smoking Alternative Suggested By International Vapor Group

International Vapor Group is one of the leading electronic cigarette companies and is presenting its products to those who consume nicotine for stress relief.  Electronic cigarettes are marketed as devices that work in a similar way with real cigarettes. The user can draw and puff from it. The device can also deliver nicotine just like tobacco cigarettes.  Yet, unlike tobacco, electronic cigarettes contain no other harmful tobacco components.

Electronic cigarettes produce no smoke, but vapor; vapor that does not stink or smell badly and linger on hands, hair, clothes and furniture. Vapor that electronic cigarette produce is even deliciously-smelling because of the exciting flavors added to the e-liquid.

The user can also control the amount of nicotine in the vapor, reducing the amount gradually until zero nicotine is reached. Thus, many users attest that using electronic cigarettes helped them kick off the smoking habit.

9/11 is a tragedy whose effects might never be forgotten, but International vapor Group hopes that through its products, smokers might be able to have a better alternative to smoking.  At present, IVG offers 10 different flavors of e-liquids in five nicotine strengths: 24, 18, 16, 12, 6 and 0 milligrams.