Is vaping bad for you?
Many people find themselves trying to answer this question only to be faced with contradictory information.
Commercials say it’s equally as bad as smoking. And, your doctor likely advises against it. Older generations might also think vaping is an unhealthy trend.
But, the basis of all these opinions is lacking. No one seems to be able to pinpoint exactly why vaping isn’t good for you. This leaves us all confused, especially smokers looking for a way to kick their habit.
Others all for vaping think it’s a mostly harmless activity. Smokers who use vaping to quit tobacco products seem to be sold as well.
So, what’s the truth? And, why are so many health-conscious people against?
Read on to discover fives truths about vaping you can’t ignore so you can decide what’s best for you.
Is Vaping Bad? Five Truths You Need to Know
Vaping is a popular new trend that is spreading across the world. In fact, approximately 10.8 million Americans or one out of 20 people in the U.S. use e-cigarettes. Explore the following truths about vaping to decide if it’s worth it.
1. Addictive Properties
There’s no getting around the fact that e-cigarettes and vapes have nicotine in them. This is a fact that people on either end of the debate can’t ignore.
Nicotine is an addictive substance that increases your heart rate and adrenaline levels. This spike in nicotine and adrenaline raises your blood pressure and increases your risk for a heart attack.
Since nicotine is an addictive substance, it also causes withdraws. Withdraws can be painful and uncomfortable. Withdrawing from nicotine may cause headaches, trouble sleeping, and mood changes.
Mood changes during withdrawal are caused by changes in hormone levels and an increase in stress. While the stress reaction during withdrawal is meant to be short-term, it can be frustrating for people withdrawing.
This stress reaction occurs during withdrawal because of hormonal dysregulation. This dysregulation happens because when nicotine is introduced to the body, dopamine, “the happiness hormone” is released.
After using nicotine for a period of time, however, the body builds up a tolerance for nicotine which changes dopamine levels. This newfound tolerance requires the individual to seek out more nicotine to regulate their system.
2. Nicotine from Vaping
People who vape are also at risk of consuming more nicotine than smokers. While this isn’t necessarily the case across the board, it is true for some vape users.
Vape cartridges come in a variety of nicotine strengths. The strength of the vape cartridge is calculated in milligrams of nicotine. One of the highest nicotine cartridges can contain up to 54 milligrams of nicotine per cartridge.
The average cigarette, on the other hand, contains 12 milligrams of nicotine. However, other vape cartridges can contain as little as 0.8 milligrams of nicotine.
This information seems to suggest that vaping exists on a continuum. Users may also not absorb the full amount of nicotine in the vape. Especially, if they don’t fully inhale, hold the vape cloud in their mouths, or use shallow breaths.
3. Ingredients
What neither side of the debate seems to know is exactly how the ingredients in the vape cartridges affect the body long-term.
People know without a doubt, the effects the chemicals in a cigarette have on your body. There are over 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes including arsenic, ammonia, and tar. All these chemicals make smoking cigarettes especially dangerous to the body leading to heart disease, cancer, and COPD.
But, this is where supporters of vaping make their strongest arguments. There is no long term data that suggests that the ingredients in vape cartridges negatively affect the body. The two main ingredients in vape cartridges, vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol, are both found in medicines and food products that many people consume on a daily basis.
We need more data before a solid conclusion about vape ingredients can be made, however. But, what we do know is that currently vaping seems to be the better option when compared to smoking.
Read more now to learn about what’s in vape juice and how it’s made.
4. Smoking Cessation Use
Despite whether or not vaping has been marketed as a smoking cessation tool, technically it isn’t. This is because the Food and Drug Administration has not approved vaping as a safe smoking cessation tool.
Many people attempting to quit smoking, however, still seek out vapes to kick their habit. Vaping provides them with the nicotine their body is used to while leaving behind the chemicals and health risks of smoking.
Using a vape also eliminates other annoyances of smoking. Even smokers don’t enjoy smelling like cigarettes, an increase in skin problems, and yellowing teeth. Vaping, on the other hand, is essentially odorless and hasn’t been linked to yellowing teeth or skin problems.
This is what makes vaping so appealing to smokers attempting to quit. Not only do they leave behind the chemicals, smells, and health risks associated with smoking, but they also leave behind the negative social effects of smoking. When smokers vape, they no longer need to spray themselves with cologne or perfume, constantly brush their teeth, or change their clothing after lighting up.
5. Vaping as a Hobby
Many people who vape do so because they consider it a hobby. They enjoy making clouds, sharing their hobby with friends, and trying the variety of flavors.
Vaping juices flavors range from traditional tobacco or menthol to fruity flavors like strawberry banana. The flavors can also mimic desserts and common food items.
Vape users also enjoy the versatility of vaping. Vape devices can be used over and over which allows people to try lots of different vape juices without purchasing a new device.
So, while vaping isn’t considered to be healthy overall, it can provide people with a hobby to explore and something to share with others.
Is Vaping Bad? Depends on Who You Ask
If you’re trying to answer the question, “Is vaping bad?” it certainly depends on who you ask. The smoker trying to quit cigarettes may have a different opinion than your doctor. But, what we currently know is that the data surrounding vaping is inconclusive.
Most can agree, however, that vaping is better for you than smoking even if we don’t fully understand the long-term side effects just yet.
Thinking about quitting smoking with vaping? Check out our blog post to learn the facts.
