Traditional methods of smoking, such as cigarettes, seem to be on their path to obsoletion, thanks to the recent popularity of vapes or e-cigarettes. These have largely appealed to the convenience-centric demographic of the current generation and have led our eyes to witness almost every second person vaping.
May they be walking on the sidewalk, standing outside a store or casually sitting with their friends on a park bench, vaping has become as basic a necessity of certain individuals as their mobile phones.
Reports show that almost 6% of adults within the United States opt for vaping, which amounts to approximately 15 million people – an alarming number, don’t you think?
Let’s get some further insight into vapes and e-cigarettes.
What are e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are chargeable devices that allow users to inhale nicotine through a vapor rather than smoke it. These do not involve burning tobacco, contrary to traditional cigarettes, and also do not produce carbon monoxide or tar, which are known to be two of the most harmful ingredients in tobacco or traditional cigarette smoke.
These e-cigarettes typically operate by heating a liquid containing nicotine, vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and various flavors. Consuming one of these is called vaping and involves inhaling the heated up liquid in the form of vapors to experience a nicotine rush, similar to what the traditional cigarettes provide.
There are many available brands that offer vapes these days, one of the most popular being Elf Bar. They offer disposable vapes in a variety of flavours. You can order Elf Bar Vapes at GoSmokeFree or similar online retailers.
Do e-cigarettes help quit smoking?
According to various reports, numerous individuals worldwide have managed to quit smoking by opting for an e-cigarette. There is progressive evidence that vaping is widely effective if individuals wish to quit smoking.
Vaping can suppress nicotine cravings within smokers, which is the main addictive chemical in cigarettes. Therefore, if you’re aiming to quit smoking through vaping, use the right nicotine strength to taper off the usage of traditional cigarettes gradually.
A research study, conducted in 2019, concluded that individuals who opted for e-cigarettes to quit smoking had double the probability of quitting smoking than those who opted for other nicotine replacement means, such as gums or patches.
However, you can only gain the maximum advantage of vaping if you completely restrict the usage of traditional cigarettes. For any advice, you can seek advice from a specialist vape shop to maximize your chances of permanently giving up smoking.
Is Vaping Less Harmful Than Smoking Cigarettes?
Although vaping is considered less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it does come with its fair share of risks. It is important to consider these before deciding on this particular approach.
Some of these include:
Nicotine Addiction
Regardless of smoking e-cigarettes or traditional cigarettes, you are still consuming nicotine which is immensely addictive. The chemical that causes smokers to get addicted to cigarettes is nicotine. Therefore, although vaping will remove tar and carbon monoxide and may be less harmful, your nicotine intake will increase.
This is because vaping products consist of much more nicotine than regular cigarettes. Excessive nicotine consumption has many side effects, including rapid heartbeat, low appetite, nausea, high blood pressure, and diarrhea.
Health Risks For The Heart And Lungs
A lesser-known fact is that vapors from e-cigarettes consist of various carcinogenic chemicals – metals, toxins, and lung irritants. Therefore, it increases the risk of lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Additionally, it also raises the chances of heart attacks. Moreover, passive smoking of e-cigarette vapors can also be an asthma trigger.
Pregnancy Risks
Pregnant women are specifically encouraged to stay away from vaping, smoking or e-cigarettes. The reason is that nicotine can severely damage a baby’s brain and lung development. Moreover, some vape flavors can be harmful too due to their artificial content.
Added Risks For Teenagers
The commonality of vaping has led numerous high-school and middle-school children to be exposed to it, particularly due to its appeal to minors in bubblegum flavors, etc. Therefore, it is important to note that vaping is severely damaging for teenagers and children because nicotine slows brain development.
Moreover, high exposure to toxins and nicotine through vaping can further harm kids due to their low body mass index. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug, and therefore, vaping can be a gateway towards a permanent transition to a chronic cigarette smoking among these teenagers or kids.
Conclusion
Therefore, while vaping is a better alternative than smoking cigarettes, it is merely a lesser of two evils. In the long run, both are likely to impact your health harmfully, and each has its own share of risks.
If you’re under 18, you should stay as far away from cigarettes and vaping as possible. The health implications and the potential impact on your brain development functions are too high and surely, not worth the risk.
On the other hand, if you’re an adult who wishes to stop smoking, make sure you’re fully aware of the harmful implications of vaping before replacing your cigarette smoking habit with it. Knowing the balance of benefits and costs is integral before you decide on this approach because the true long-run consequences of vaping are still unknown and require much more research.
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