Smoking – Research Studies and Risks Associated With Vaping – Prof Colin Mendelsohn

Posted on: June 13, 2019

Last Updated: August 24, 2020

Professor Colin Mendelsohn is a Tobacco Treatment Specialist. He helps smokers to quit smoking, teaches health professionals, writes articles on smoking and is involved in a range of other smoking-related projects. He teaches medical and Masters students  at the University of New South Wales. He is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Technology (UTS). He is also the chairman of the health promotion charity, Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (ATHRA) and has published many articles in peer-reviewed medical journals.

Author Quotes:

Even in human beings [compared with the lab tests on cells], they [e-cigs] are far safer than smoking, and what we are talking about is using these products for people who would be smoking anyway.

If you stop smoking and change to vaping, the evidence so far suggests you greatly reduce your weight gain.

If you go to the website [ATHRA] there is a whole section on vaping and other strategies on how to quit smoking.

Summary and slides:

In this second part of Prof Mendelsohn’s presentation, he talks about the known risks associated with e-cigarettes and vaping, and presents findings from several research studies.

He moves to discuss the health effects of nicotine and how it is often incorrectly associated with major cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Presenting the beneficial effects of nicotine, he highlights certain medical conditions known to be improved by nicotine.

He also presents some practical information on effective counseling for smoking cessation and discusses how patients often have a transition stage between smoking and vaping. Concluding this presentation, Prof Mendelsohn shows the different models available for vaping and gives advice on prescriptions and raising awareness.