You do know, as a doctor and a vaper, I'm on your side.
Yes, we are aware that you are a vaping doctor
and many apologies for not answering your earlier comment on my original post sooner, I had intended to do so. I realise that in your professional capacity, you can assume nothing about your patients except what you can read upon their records, or fellow members on POTV except what you read in our posts, but many of us here already manage quite complex health conditions quite successfully with relatively little input from our GP or Consultants and some members also work in healthcare provision.
With reference to the long-term usage of e-liquid ingredients, if as I've suggested in my opening post, ex-smokers who now vape make their GPs aware of their status (not just in Scotland, but NHS patients across the UK), then the NHS and any other researchers will, in effect, have a whole lot of test subjects for the long-term use of personal vapourisers (PVs)/e-cigarettes (mine looks nothing like a tobacco cigarette and I deliberately chose it to be so).
Some of us vape for the purpose of tobacco cessation whilst dealing with nicotine dependency in an effective manner, some of us vape as a method of NRT, some people only do it so they can stay in the pub rather than going outside for a fag and the rest of the time use tobacco (I doubt very much that last one could actually be said of any of the members of POTV). Some of us do it because we can't or don't wish to use varenicline or bupropion (and there were already 18 deaths ascribed to the latter within eight months of its release in 2001, yet it remains in use), many of us also vape because besides other reasons, it supplies the hand-to-mouth action lost in giving up tobacco cigarettes. Look at all those lovely boxes we can tick already
Some of these subjects who do not keep a record, so to speak, of their vaping habits and any perceived effects of vaping could possibly be discounted, but many if not most here know what e-liquids they have used in the past, know the nicotine amounts they use (and are perfectly capable of self-titration should they wish to lower their dose), and keep an eye on any side effects, many logging them here or on other vaping sites to keep a record. OK, it's not quite to the standards required for medical research as it is anecdotal, but for a start it's better than nothing.
Unfortunately, forums like this that make a point of taking in everything from health issues to sub-ohm cloud-chasing, can't help those that buy from the ubiquitous 'chap down the pub' - unless these individuals join (or at least lurk as a guest) and read as much information as possible
and take in what they read (this is actively encouraged here and on many other vaping forums): instead the data of these individuals may well remain unrecorded until they visit their GP when something does go seriously wrong with their health, and in what I feel will be a very rare instance, could actually be ascribed to vaping (idiocy such as drinking e-liquid or leaving it in an unsafe place so children or animals can get to it really doesn't count, as you cannot legislate against stupidity, however hard you try).
However, I'd like to believe that most vapers are switched on enough to be aware of safety, and health issues as they come up, for example the on-going research into safe flavourings carried out by some of the flavouring companies (The Perfumers Apprentice for example) and that currently being carried out by Dr Farsalinos et al.
Those of us here who mix our own e-liquid or sub ohm are fully aware of all the safety issues involved. I can trace all the ingredients of my e-liquids (made for personal use only) back to original source via reputable vendors and access the MSDS if necessary. Meanwhile, none of us will deny that the potential for damage to health exists from unscrupulous vendors of vaping hardware and e-liquids, but except for the banning of sales of PVs and e-liquid to under 18s and ensuting that e-liquid bottles are child-safe and have warnings compliant with the latest legislation, something that just about every reputable vendor already does, we don't see the type of recommendations of Article 18 of the Tobacco Products Directive as being anything but highly detrimental to anyone who already vapes, and to future users of PVs and/or e-cigarettes. There is no way that I can put my argument against it as intelligently or as eloquently as Clive Bates, Ex-Director of ASH does
here.
So, in an attempt to sum up my ramblings, your research subjects to assess the long term effects of vaping are already here; whether we are using vaping for nicotine cessation or simply tobacco cessation, we are in it for the long haul. We are happy to take part in studies - the fact that many of us have already done so and continue to do so bears this out. I realise I'm preaching to the converted in your example
Rukaguy, but I along with others will be hoping that newer/more enlightened GPs are already seeing the benefits of vaping in their patients and realising that despite what the legislation is saying, plenty of studies - especially those misused to produce said legislation already exist and continue to be carried out.
For those of you whose doctors are currently anti-vaping or see it as a facet of tobacco use/smoking regardless of what the patient believes, keep on at them, request to have your blood oxygen, peak flow and blood pressure measured regularly to assess whether vaping is helping your health (Tubbyengineer is already doing just that); if you have other health issues tell them how vaping has helped, or even if it has caused a health issue (e.g. sore throat or spots with too much PG). Most of all Educate them, you have access to all the studies here (even if you do have to dig through the archives to find them!)
