Electronic Cigarettes

Article by: Clark Stream, PA-C


There is a new product on the market that has been changing the way people smoke. It’s called the “e-cig”. This new device consists of a battery, an atomizer (heater), and a cartridge that is filled with a liquid nicotine solution called eliquid. Every time you take a puff, the battery powers the atomizer which rapidly heats up the eliquid inside the cartridge. The liquid turns into a vapor that the user inhales. The vapor is tar free, odorless, 2nd hand smoke free, and carbon monoxide free. May manufacturers of this product claim the e-cigs as a revolutionary development for smokers that allow a customizable smoking experience.

The World Health Organization has termed these devices electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The vapors from ENDS are complex mixtures of chemicals, not pure nicotine. It is unknown whether inhalation of the complex mixture of chemicals found in ENDS vapors is safe. There is no evidence that e-cigarettes are effective treatment for nicotine addiction. The FDA is concerned about the safety of these products and how they are marketed to the public,” said Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., commissioner of food and drugs. ENDS are not approved by the FDA as smoking cessation devices.

Can e-cigs help you stop smoking? 

Over the years, several of my friends and family members have tried everything from patches, prescriptions, quitting cold turkey and plenty of nicotine gum. Unfortunately, very few have become non-smokers. For years working in cardiovascular and vascular surgery, I have preached to the smoking patient how important it is to stop smoking. Will e-cigs become one of the many tools used to help patients stop smoking? Findings suggest that e-cigarettes may hold promise as a smoking-cessation method and that they are worthy of further study using more-rigorous research designs.

The reason I am writing about this topic …I was recently surprised when my mother and sister told me they we able to quit smoking with the help of the e-cig. I asked them how difficult it was to stop and they said with the e-cig, it was easy. This is an answered prayer.

A recent internet survey in 2010 was conducted to assess the profile, usage patterns, satisfaction and perceived effects among users of electronic cigarettes ("e-cigs"). Visitors of websites and online forums were dedicated to e-cigarettes and to smoking cessation. There were 3587 participants (70% former tobacco smokers, 61% men, mean age 41 years). The median duration of electronic cigarette use was 3 months, users drew 120 puffs/day and used 5 refills/day. Almost all (97%) used e-cigarettes containing nicotine. Daily users spent $33 per month on these products. Most (96%) said the e-cigarette helped them quit smoking or reduce their smoking (92%). Reasons for using the e-cigarette included the perception it was less toxic than tobacco (84%), to deal with craving for tobacco (79%) and withdrawal symptoms (67%), to quit smoking or avoid relapsing (77%), because it was cheaper than smoking (57%) and to deal with situations where smoking was prohibited (39%). Most ex-smokers (79%) feared they might relapse to smoking if they stopped using the e-cigarette. Users of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes reported better relief of withdrawal and a greater effect on smoking cessation than those using non-nicotine e-cigarettes. Conclusions of this survey showed that e-cigarettes were used much as people would use nicotine replacement medications: by former smokers to avoid relapse or as an aid to cut down or quit smoking. Further research should evaluate the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes for administration of nicotine and other substances, and for quitting and relapse prevention.

What products should people who want to quit smoking use? 
There are a number of FDA-approved smoking cessation aids, including nicotine gum, nicotine skin patches, nicotine lozenges, nicotine oral inhaled products, and nicotine nasal spray that are available for smokers to use to reduce their dependence on nicotine.  Free help is available to all smokers who want to quit at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or by visiting www.smokefree.gov⁴.  Florida has several web sites including, www.floridaquitline.com, www.tobaccofreeflorida.com, or www.floridahealthcares.com .

A Fun Way to Stay Healthy in the Summer Heat

Article by: Jennifer Clark, PA-C, MPAS

May 2011

Summer is here and it is going to be a hot one! We have all been told many times over how important cardiovascular exercise is for our health, but lets be honest, the hotter it gets, the more we all seem to find an excuse to forego our exercise routines.because after all the heat makes it way too hard! So instead, we go through the drive through at our favorite fast food restaurant, grab an extra large milk shake and go home and lay on the couch in the air conditioning. As great as this may sound, it is not the healthiest way to avoid the heat. Most every Panama City resident would agree, there is no better way to combat the scorching heat as getting in the cool and refreshing water. What if there was a way to enjoy the water and exercise at the same time? There is! Water aerobics is a great way to cool off and provide our bodies with the cardiovascular exercise that is so important to a healthy lifestyle. Despite how fun this may sound, often people still find reasons why they feel they would not be able to perform this exercise. Lets take a minute to discuss some of those common excuses, the benefits of water aerobics, and why you CAN do it.


I cant do that because I am way too old!


Water aerobics knows no age! In fact, the older you are, the more benefit you are likely to receive. The water provides buoyancy and support making it much easier to exercise as compared to more traditional methods. In fact, the water actually supports up to 80% of our body weight making it much easier for elderly individuals.


But....I have a bad back and knees and exercise just hurts!


This is a non-weight bearing activity and it is easy on the joints making it ideal for people who suffer from joint pain or who are injured. It allows the joints to move throughout a much wider range of motion without pain. 


WellI have terrible balance and can hardly walk, let alone get in the water!


The resistance of the water increases core strength and improves muscular endurance and balance so it is beneficial in multiple ways.




I think that it will be a waste of time, I dont think it will do much to help me lose weight


Actually quite the contrary! Water aerobics actually burns fat more effectively than many land exercises, keeping the heart rate lower which allows increased fat burning. It is also a huge calorie burner, helping you to burn from 450-700 calories in an hour! 


Physical fitness is so important for us allit helps build our muscles and increases the blood flow through the legs which helps improve our circulation. Water aerobics is a fun and effective way to exercise and is available at multiple locations throughout town. It is also easy enough to do in your own pool; there are multiple routines available for download on the internet and inexpensive water resistance weights are sold at many stores locally as well as online. So get out of the heat and into the pool and start enjoying a fun way to improve your quality of life!