Emerging and alternative solutions to smoking addiction in the patient with a respiratory pathology

Abstract

Smoking is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and exposure to tobacco smoke is a risk factor in developing a respiratory pathology. Given the lack of success of pharmacological treatment and behavioural therapy in patients who cannot or do not want to quit smoking, emerging strategies are an alternative to conventional cigarette use. These strategies, such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, could be presented as an option to reduce, at least partially, the damage caused by tobacco, thanks to the absence of combustion of organic matter. This review shows how the use of these devices presents both an objective and a subjective improvement in COPD patients, reducing the development and progression of the disease, and reducing the biomarkers of exposure to toxic substances compared to continuing with the smoking habit.