Advice on e-cigs and Angina, please x

[lettie]

Hello everyone,

I've had my dad round to today to enjoy a BBQ with the family, and he was most intrigued by e-cig - so much so that had a couple of 'puffs' and was very impressed.

Now, he is 73, smokes 20 cigs a day (he used to smoke 40.....), but he has Angina, and had a mini stroke last year.

He is on medication, and his last of 4 heart attacks was 30 years ago.

He is a stubborn man, who hates going to the doctor, and would never bother his doctor with a silly question regarding his smoking (his words not mine) - he has had the same doctor for 40 years and all they do is end up talking about cricket..........

Would anyone know if trying an e-cig would be ok - or is it a definate no-no because of the heart condition?

My poor mum is a non-smoker who deplores my dads smoking, and she suffers chest infections due to passive smoking.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated......xxxxx

[hissie]

Well if he dosen't want to quit the analogs, then e-cigs will be better for his health overall. At least he's still getting the nicotine without all the horrid chemicals. Better for his heart in that respect.

[lettie]

Hissie, that is what I think also, but I think I read somewhere that e-cigs are not good if you have a heart condtion.

But I have read so much about e-cigs before I actually got one, including a few 'anti' e-cig rants on other forums, that I can't remember if they are ok for him or not

He will NOT go to his doctor and ask, but I suppose I could ask my doctor - but what do doctors know about e-cigs????

Ohhhhhh my head hurts! ???

[hissie]

I rekon even if drs knew anything about e-cigs, I think you would find them against using them full stop.

I know someone started a thread about e-cigs and pacemakers, but I don't think anyone was able to find any definate answers on the internet. I think you would struggle finding answers on e-cigs and angina too. It would probably have to be an either try e-cigs or avoid them.

[lettie]

I'm going to agree with you on that, hissie.

Surely using an e-cig has to better for him than an anologue stick.

Sort of makes sense in my head, just think I need reassurance.

[hissie]

See what the others have to say & then you have a few people's opinions

[lettie]

Aye, I will.

I'll keep popping back inbetween me ebay sales and watching Top Gear.....x

[Perpetua]

I'd agree with all that Hissie has said Lettie - in theory any doctor is bound to say no smoking full stop - but an ecig has to better than the real thing in my humble opinion.

[Chrissie]

Sorry Lettie, but I'm really not sure about this .

Although I agree with Hissie & Perdy that e-cigs are most likely a much safer alternative for your dad, with angina, I think he should be staying away from nicotine full stop.

[lettie]

I totally agree with you, Chrissie, about my dad staying away from nicotine altogether.

But I'm afraid that that is never going to happen.

He has smoked for 63 years, had 4 heart attacks in his 40's, his first stroke last year, and he has NEVER in his whole life ever even attempted to pack up smoking. And he never will.

He has cut down from 40 a day to 20 and refuses to cut down anymore. We have begged and pleaded but to no avail.

he says that after losing 3 stone in weight, and giving up alcohol, he is NO WAY going to pack up the only pleasure he has in life.

I dispair, I worry, I cry, but it makes no difference whatsoever.

Untill today, when he tried my e-cig, and a saw a shadow of hope......xx

[Scylla]

I'm sure it won't hurt to try an e-cig as long as he doesn't go mad with high-nic juices. If he takes to it, then it might be possible to wean himself off the nicotine gradually Given that he's not been able to give up smoking despite such frightening warnings, I think he'd be onto a winner with e-cigs, bearing in mind the aforesaid

scylla

[lettie]

I do hope you could be right Scylla!

I want to buy him a 901, with 11-18mg e-juice and see how he goes with that.

For my father to even show the slightest interest in something other than a real cig is nothing short of amazing.

He phoned me earlier to ask me to choose one for him. I choked on me glass of Hardys Chardonnay I can tell ya!

[Chrissie]

Oh (((Lettie))) , I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to take away that shadow of hope .

I just have to be careful & say that I can't truly put my hand on my heart & say the e-cig would be a completely 100% safe alternative for your dad.

However, I can't think of anything much worse than him continuing with real cigs - hope you get the gist of what I'm trying to say?

[Chrissie]

Lettie, go for that 901 kit

[Scylla]

I think we're saying the same, Chrissie

I would never suggest that someone with heart trouble who had given up smoking should take up e-cigs

scylla x