Vaping: Not as Safe as You Think

Vaping, or using electronic cigarettes, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Some people believe that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, but there is growing evidence that vaping can have serious health risks.

What is in an E-cigarette?

Children can be naive in believing that an e-cigarette contains water vapour.

It may look like harmless vapour but the e-cigarette aerosol that users breathe from the device and exhale can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including:

• Nicotine

• Ultra-fine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs

• Flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease

• Volatile organic compounds

• Cancer-causing chemicals

• Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead

What is Vaping?

Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device. These devices heat a liquid, usually containing nicotine to create the vapor. The vape or e-cigarette not only contains nicotine but harmful chemicals and flavorings as listed above. Vaping is often marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, but there is still much that we don't know about the long-term health effects of vaping.

What are the Health Risks of Vaping?

The health risks of vaping are not fully known, but there is some evidence that vaping can cause a number of health problems, including:

• Respiratory problems: Vaping can cause respiratory problems, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

• Heart disease: Vaping can damage the heart and lungs.

• Cancer: Vaping can increase the risk of cancer.

• Fertility problems: Vaping can cause problems with fertility.

• Brain damage: Vaping can harm the developing brain of teenagers and young adults. Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe to use for kids, teens, and young adults for this reason.

Some other risks associated with e-cigarettes are:

• Defective e-cigarette batteries have caused some fires and explosions, a few of which have resulted in serious injuries.

• Children and adults have been poisoned by swallowing, breathing, or absorbing e-cigarette liquid through their skin or eyes. Nationally, approximately 50% of calls to poison control centers for e-cigarettes are for kids 5 years of age or younger.

Is Vaping a Gateway to Smoking?

There is also some concern that vaping could be a gateway to smoking. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that young people who vape are more likely to start smoking cigarettes later on.

How Can I Quit Vaping?

If you are thinking about quitting vaping, there are many resources available to help you. Here are a few tips:

• If you are concerned that your child may be vaping, talk to them, have an open conversation, and tell them the harmful effects e-cigarettes can have on their health. Let them know that it will be ok to quit and you will always be there for them.

• Talk to your healthcare professional. They can help you develop a quit plan and provide support.

• Join a quit-smoking program. There are many programs available, both online and in person.

• Use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). NRT can help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms and there are a wide range of products available for you here : https://amzn.to/3RW0Z53 Read the blog about "SMOKING KILLS" for further information.

• Find a support group. Talking to other people who are trying to quit can be helpful.

• Be patient. Quitting vaping is not easy, but it is possible. Just keep trying and don't give up. Vaping causes harm to your health and people around you.

How Does Quitting Help Me?

• As long as you stay without vaping, withdrawal symptoms will fade over time as the brain gets used to not having nicotine. So, when you quit vaping, your lungs will start to heal and function better.

• When you quit vaping, your risk of cancer will go down.

• When you quit vaping, your heart health will improve.

• Vaping can be expensive. When you quit vaping, you will save money on vape juice, cartridges, and other supplies.

• Vaping can make your sense of taste and smell dull. When you quit vaping, your sense of taste and smell will improve.

• You may have more energy, be less stressed, and have a better mood.

The Bottom Line

Vaping is not as safe as you think. It can cause a number of health problems, and it may be a gateway to smoking. If you are considering vaping, I urge you to weigh the risks and benefits carefully. The best way to protect your health is to quit vaping altogether. I hope this blog post has helped you to understand the health risks of vaping. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.