5 Vaping Facts You Need to Know

1. Although vaping is less harmful than tobacco smoking, it is still not safe.
E-cigarettes use heat to transform nicotine (extract from tobacco), flavors and other chemicals into an aerosol you can inhale. The 7,000 chemicals in tobacco cigarettes are mostly toxic. Blaha, who says that we do not know the exact chemicals in e-cigarettes but “there’s almost no question” that vaping exposes users to less toxic chemicals than traditional cigarettes.

There has been a recent outbreak of lung injury and death associated with vaping. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed in February 2020 that 2,807 cases were associated with e-cigarettes or vaping and 68 deaths.

These cases seem to be primarily affecting people who modify their devices or use modified eliquids from the black market. This is particularly true for vaping products that contain THC,” explains Blaha.

The CDC has identified Vitamin E acetate among EVALI patients as a chemical to be concerned about. Vitamin E acetate, a thickening substance often found in THC vaping product, was detected in the lung fluid of all EVALI patients.

The CDC advises people to:

Vaping or e-cigarettes containing THC are not recommended.
Do not use informal sources such as family, friends or online sellers to purchase a vaping product.
Modify or do not add substances that were not intended by a manufacturer to a vaping product.
The Johns Hopkins University published a study in October 2021 that revealed thousands of chemical components in vape products. Most of these ingredients have not been identified. The team identified several potentially harmful substances including caffeine, three chemicals not previously found in electronic cigarettes, a pesticide, and two flavors linked to possible toxic effects and respiratory irritants.

2. Vaping can be harmful to your heart and lungs, according to research.
Nicotine, the main ingredient in cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, is highly addictive. You will crave cigarettes and experience withdrawal symptoms if the craving is ignored. Nicotine is toxic. Nicotine increases blood pressure, adrenaline and heart rate.

Vaping is it bad for me? Vaping is a complex topic. It’s not known what chemicals are in the vapor or how long-term effects on health will be. Blaha says that people need to be aware of the dangers e-cigarettes pose to their health. New data suggest links between e-cigarettes, asthma and chronic lung disease. There are also associations between dual use and cardiovascular disease. You are exposing yourself all sorts of chemicals we do not yet understand, and which may be unsafe.

3. Electronic cigarettes can be just as addictive.
E-cigarettes contain nicotine. Research suggests that it may be just as addictive as cocaine and heroin. Blaha says that many ecigarette users are getting more nicotine from their e-cigarettes than they would get from combustible cigarettes. Users can purchase extra-strong cartridges with a higher nicotine concentration or increase the voltage of the ecigarette to get an even greater hit.

4. Electronic cigarettes are not the best tool to quit smoking.
E-cigarettes are not FDA approved as smoking cessation aids, even though they have been promoted as such. Recent research found that many people who wanted to quit smoking with e cigarettes ended up using both traditional and electronic cigarettes.

The CDC urges smokers who are considering using e-cigarettes to quit smoking to carefully weigh the benefits and risks of doing so and consider other FDA-approved options first.

5. reasons why a new generation of smokers is gaining a nicotine addiction
E-cigarettes are the most popular tobacco product among youths. This is especially true for disposable e cigarettes. According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey 2021, over 2 million U.S. high school and middle school students reported that they used e cigarettes in 2021. More than 8 out of 10 youths who responded said they had used flavored e cigarette.

Blaha believes that there are three main reasons why e-cigarettes might be appealing to teenagers. Many teens think vaping is safer than smoking. E-cigarettes are cheaper per use than conventional cigarettes. Youths and adults alike find the absence of smoke appealing. E-cigarettes are less stigmatizing because they don’t smell.

Blaha says, “I find it most alarming that vaping has become so popular, as people who wouldn’t have smoked before, and especially young people, are now taking up the habit.” It’s one thing to switch from smoking cigarettes to vaping. Vaping is a different way to begin nicotine use. “And, nicotine addiction often leads to the use of traditional tobacco products in the future.”

According to CDC research, vaping has decreased among youths since 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to this trend, as kids were forced to stay at home with their parents.

Blaha says that interpreting the data can be tricky because young people often change their preferences and may not think of disposable products like “puff bars” when they are surveyed. According to the same CDC report, disposable e-cigarettes have increased by 1,000% in high school and 400% in middle school since 2019.

Vaping and COVID-19 Pandemic
Blaha explains that when the coronavirus outbreak first started, data shows a drop in e-cigarettes sales. This could be because people spent more time at home, avoiding public places and stores.

Blaha is concerned by a growing trend among vapes nz users: the use of e-cigarettes daily. “The number who vaped every day used to be one in five, but it has increased quite a lot. This is concerning as it indicates more nicotine addiction. “I’m keeping an eye on that.”

COVID-19 can cause respiratory issues if you smoke, vape or use other lung irritants.

Quit smoking!
Smoking is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease and cancer. The sooner you stop smoking, the faster your body will recover and repair. Speak to your doctor and ask about the best smoking cessation tools or programs for you.