Recently the popularity of vaping has shot up and a lot of youngsters are indulging in e-cigarettes with increasing interest. We are well aware that regular cigarettes cause cancer and a host of other problems, but vaping is not risk-free either. Teenagers and young adults are switching to vaping considering it safe. They feel that vaping will help them to eventually quit smoking cigarettes. Despite claims of vaping being less harmful than cigarettes, we will help you understand the hazards present in both. Smokers who believe that vapes work better than nicotine replacement therapy products like gums and patches should know more about vapes before reaching such a decision. Vaping vs. smoking, and its comparison, impacts, and inference will be reached in this article. Read on to draw an informed conclusion.
Vaping vs. Cigarettes: A Comparison
Vaping or e-cigarettes may seem less harmful than cigarettes but that does not make them safe. Vapes have nicotine just like cigarettes, along with flavouring and other chemicals that create the aerosol for inhalation. Regular tobacco contains thousands of chemicals that are extremely toxic. Both contain nicotine which is highly addictive. Additionally, many vaping products contain higher quantities of nicotine than regular cigarettes. The side effects of nicotine are applicable for both which include low appetite, a surge in heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, and diarrhoea. Both cigarettes and vapes produce cancer-causing toxins that affect the lungs and can cause asthma. chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Increasing chances of heart attacks are equally hazardous to health.
Just like cigarette smokers, those who vape develop shortness of breath, occasional affinity to fall sick, cough and cold with fever, and extensive lung damage. So, when it comes to Vaping vs. Smoking, it does not seem that vaping is by any length safer than smoking. Also, vapes sometimes contain THC, a vitamin E acetate, that is responsible for significant health impacts. In both cases, the craving due to nicotine is high. Nicotine raises blood pressure and increases the heart rate among individuals creating a likelihood of heart attack. The chemical composition of the vapour in a vape is not fully known and there can be various physical harm caused if the vape is taken over a long duration. Therefore, the safety aspect of vapes must not be disregarded and should be treated with equal concern as cigarettes. This is most certainly not recommended for teenagers and young adults or anyone for that matter. So, while comparing the two, we can reach an assumption that both are equally harmful owing to the nicotine content in them. Both are addictive and people who start vaping may shift from cigarettes to vapes, but the addiction to vapes continues. The safest way to come out of both addictions is through Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).
Is vaping less harmful than cigarettes?
Vapes are not less harmful than cigarettes as discussed. They may help individuals to quit smoking, but those individuals get addicted to vaping in its place. This cannot be considered as smoking cessation, as smoking cessation would mean giving up on nicotine altogether. Neither can this be considered as nicotine step-down as E-cigarettes offer the option of extra strength cartridges containing a higher dose of nicotine for a higher hit. So, the question of tapering out of nicotine does not arise, instead, smokers end up being addicted to e-cigarettes. Nicotine is present in both, those who quit traditional cigarettes for e-cigarettes end up being addicted to e-cigarettes. Youth are more attracted to e-cigarettes over traditional tobacco or cigarettes. With more and more teens believing that vapes are less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes, it is concerning that they do not realize they are getting addicted to nicotine in both cases. E-cigarettes or vapes heat the liquid that becomes vapour and people inhale it. It contains nicotine and other harmful chemicals that are not the same as tobacco, but those chemicals cannot be termed as 'safe'. Some vaping companies for advertising reasons push the idea that vaping is safer than cigarettes and a continuous circulation of this false information in different media makes repeated misinformation stand with speculation of 'truth'. This myth must be debunked as those addicted to e-cigarettes are inhaling toxic substances that poison the lungs causing injury and even burns. Nicotine addiction remains in both. If nonsmokers initiate smoking with e-cigarettes, the habit is more likely to set in.
What are the best ways to quit smoking?
Those who smoke get addicted to nicotine in the tobacco and find it hard to quit smoking easily. Some try the cold turkey way and let go of smoking in one go. The addictive action of nicotine creates deep cravings compounded with withdrawal symptoms that dilute the strong convictions of quitting. Trying out nicotine replacement therapy NRT, is the best way of weaning out of smoking. Using NRT products like gums, mints, effervescent tablets and patches is a helpful way to wean out nicotine gradually through controlled dosage. The craving is managed through decreasing nicotine doses making this short-action therapy safe for those with a willingness to quit smoking.
When you are on the journey of smoking cessation while going through NRT stay away from the factors that may induce the urge to smoke again. Do not join your old smoking partners in the office. Make a concerted effort to keep away from them. Stay connected with support groups and each time a craving arises, you can turn to them or psychologically psyche yourself to delay the craving. Get into physical exercise like walking, yoga, or gym. The urge to remain healthy will take you away from craving. Indulge in an old hobby or begin a new one. Never lose sight of NRT, and remember, it is a nicotine tapering therapy. The purpose is to eventually move into a smoke-free life and not return to nicotine addiction. The NRT products must be stopped once their work is done.
How do you quit vaping if you’re using it to quit smoking?
As we have learned vaping is not a healthier alternative to smoking and comes with equal if not greater risks of smoking. The nicotine in e-cigarettes causes physical dependence. As we also discussed, some vaping brands offer higher hits with stronger doses of nicotine in them than traditional cigarettes. For teenagers, it is more harmful as the brain continues to develop till the mid-twenties. Nicotine addiction causes damage to the developing brain at a very young age by taking to vaping. Nicotine addiction has many harmful side effects that include concentration problems, irritability, restlessness, and sleeping disorder. In addition to this, aerosol in vape products contains harmful ingredients that include heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds that can severely harm a person’s health and well-being. Quitting is naturally an individual's decision and once someone reaches it, there are two most popular methods. One is to quit smoking the cold turkey way which is to let go of vaping at one go and the other is quitting through nicotine replacement therapy. This therapy has proved effective as it helps individuals cope with craving and withdrawal symptoms better. Low doses of nicotine in reducing order are induced through various NRT products that eventually help a person to taper out of nicotine. Set a specific date to quit vaping. This should be in sync with the conclusion of your therapy. A mental preparation in that direction is such a strong motivation. Just like the practices adopted for quitting smoking, identify the triggers and keep away from them. Mostly it is your companions that took you there in the first place. Start keeping a distance and remember that it is not the people you have trouble with, but their habits. Seek help from support groups and each time the urge to slip back to the old habit crops up, you can lean on the support group for help. Physical activity never hurts and when it comes to walking out of an addiction, being physically active is a reason for moving away from it. After all, smoking is not at all beneficial for health. The reasons for not smoking outweigh the reasons for smoking. However, the decision to embark on a smoke-free life must be taken by the individual.
The more you prolong your decision to quit smoking, the more likely you are to jeopardize your health. Future risks such as lung infections and injuries, poor heart health, eye health, skin health, dwindling finances, and psychological implications all culminate to make life quite challenging. Find the motivation and start with nicotine replacement therapy for the best way of quitting smoking.
Is vaping better than quitting smoking?
When it comes to vaping vs smoking there is no better alternative. Both products are equally harmful containing nicotine which is an addiction that does not allow you to quit smoking. The longer one is addicted to smoking the more harm they are causing to their physical and mental health and finances. Vaping is argued to be safer than smoking by many but the nicotine in vape along with the many harmful chemicals does not make it a safer alternative. Also, the statement that vaping helps wean out of cigarettes is a myth. Nicotine is addictive and it is hard to break away from it, just like conventional cigarette smoking. So vaping is not an alternative to quitting smoking. Smoking should not be taken up in the first place, but once someone is addicted, quitting smoking is the best way to walk back into a healthy life and not dive into vaping as it is equally, if not more, harmful. The surest way to quit smoking is through nicotine replacement therapy which prepares the body slowly towards quitting smoking. NRT is supported by many products like gums, lozenges, patches, and effervescent tablets. Using the products of a trusted company can help you break free from nicotine addiction in vaping and cigarettes. If you believe that vaping is harming your body less and that you can safely continue with it by quitting cigarettes, come out of this misinformation. Start reading about the side effects of vaping. Quitting smoking is a great decision but opting for vaping is a foolish one. You are not removing yourself from an addiction but driving yourself to another. Instead, taking up NRT with trusted products of Nicotex will help you quit addiction better only if you are prepared to do so. Being addicted to nicotine harms your body and the more you ponder on your decision the greater damage you will be causing to yourself. Act quickly and quit smoking for good with nicotine replacement therapy.
Will my lungs heal if I switch to vaping?
Both vaping and smoking involve heat and inhalation which results in smoke and fumes. Traditional cigarettes burn tobacco and vaping devices heat a liquid called vape juice that vaporizes and is inhaled. Vaping coats the lungs with harmful chemicals some of them may contain THC dissolved in an oily base and they enter the lungs causing inflammation. The substance has vitamin E responsible for thickening the e-liquid or vaping juice. Other common substances found are Diacetyl which is a food additive flavoring substance known for damaging the lung passageway. Causing lung inflammation, it can permanently scar the lungs and the airways, resulting in breathing difficulty in individuals. A person vaping is likely to develop coughing, wheezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Formaldehyde is a known toxic chemical that not only severely damages the lungs but also harms the heart function. Acrolein is a weed killer and its effects on the body are a no-brainer.
Those vaping are likely to develop lipoid pneumonia where fatty acids enter the lungs as oily substances are inhaled. This results in chronic cough, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and blood-tinged mucus amongst other problems. No permanent cure is prescribed for this condition. The risk of collapsed lungs is likely developed from vaping. Air blisters rupture and tear the lungs making the oxygen escape. This condition causes sharp chest and shoulder pain, shortness of breath, and difficulty in breathing. If the condition is serious, it might need surgery. Given the host of chemicals that enter the lungs from vaping, there is also a high chance of cancer as the chemicals are quite toxic. The sooner you start smoking cessation the safer you will remain from these problems.