Did you know that 2.5 million youth in the U.S. used e-cigarettes in 2022?
E-cigarettes, the use of which is referred to as vaping, are small electronic devices. An alternative to cigarettes, an e-cigarette contains nicotine and flavoring that users inhale and exhale as they would if smoking cigarettes.
But is vaping safer than smoking? Cigarettes may contain 7,000 chemicals — many of them toxic. While there’s debate about how many chemicals are in e-cigarettes, the consensus is that the tally is lower than what’s in cigarettes.
If you’re wondering if vaping is safe, keep reading to get the answers.
Vaping Is Not Uncommon
The first thing to know is that vaping is popular. One in 20 Americans vape, for instance. That works out to 5% of the population.
Unfortunately, e-cigarette use is on the rise among youth. Vaping among youth has skyrocketed by 1,800%.
Impact of Vaping on Your Lungs
When looking at vaping vs smoking in terms of impact on the lungs, you already know that smoking can lead to issues such as lung cancer. Smoking cigarettes is the cause of between 80% and 90% of lung cancer deaths.
But what about vaping? Remember that e-cigarettes have nicotine, which can lead to lung cancer.
The long-term health impact of vaping has yet to be fully understood. But it can cause inflammation and lung irritation.
Since vaping hasn’t been around as long as cigarettes, more vaping issues may be discovered in the future. But if you have to choose between the two, your odds are better with e-cigarettes.
Liquid in E-Cigarettes Isn’t Just Water
The liquid in e-cigarettes isn’t just water. It contains nicotine, flavoring, glycerin, and propylene glycol to make the vapor.
The liquid can also include chemicals known to cause lung disease or cancer, vitamin E acetate that can lead to lung injury, heavy metals like cadmium and nickel, and particles that can get embedded in your lungs.
If you’re going to vape, your best bet is to get your vaping products from a reputable vendor. They will sell the best quality products and are able to answer any questions you may have.
Some vaping products have more nicotine than others. If you want to vape, choose wisely. Patronize a vendor that can accommodate your needs.
Don’t assume that all vendors are the same. If you’re unsure where to start, check out this vape shop. Here’s an example of one vendor doing it right.
Vaping Can Be Addictive
It’s a mistake to believe that e-cigarettes aren’t addictive. They contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive chemical. One reason people struggle to quit smoking is because of nicotine.
So, if you start vaping, you might struggle to quit. It’s vital to know that even e-liquids that are advertised as being nicotine free have trace amounts of nicotine.
Vaping is just as addictive as cigarette smoking, and research suggests that nicotine might be as addictive as cocaine and heroin.
Vaping May Not Be the Best Smoking Cessation Option
Some people trying to quit cigarettes believe using e-cigarettes will help them quit smoking altogether. But vaping hasn’t gotten the FDA’s approval as a smoking cessation method.
If you want to quit smoking, look for options approved by the FDA.
Short-Term Consequences of Vaping
If you vape, some short-term side effects include nausea, coughing, dry mouth, eye irritation, headaches, and shortness of breath.
Risk of Fire or Explosion
While the risks are uncommon, there have been cases of vape batteries igniting or exploding.
The FDA recommends the following steps to reduce the risk of this happening:
- Use vape devices with safety features like vent holes, firing button locks, and overcharging safeguards
- Don’t keep spare batteries close to metal objects
- Do not charge your vape device with a tablet or phone charger
- Replace batteries if they get wet or are damaged
- Don’t let your vape device charge overnight
Again, remember that explosion or fire risks involving vaping devices are uncommon. But it doesn’t hurt to know how to minimize the risks if you vape.
E-Cigarettes Cheaper Than Cigarettes
According to one source, vaping can be cheaper than smoking cigarettes.
Vaping can cost $387 to $5,082.50 annually while cigarettes can cost $2,087 to $5,091.75 annually for people who smoke a pack daily.
So, looking at vaping vs cigarettes in terms of cost means that you can potentially save if you choose the former over the latter.
Vaping Costs Healthcare Industry Billions
According to one report, the use of vaping products costs the U.S. $15 billion every year in healthcare costs. That works out to $2,000 per person yearly.
This should provide more context if you’re wondering how safe is vaping.
While vaping is sometimes promoted as being a safer alternative to cigarettes, there are still some health concerns to keep in mind. You need to know the facts before being able to make informed decisions.
Is Vaping Safe?
If you currently smoke, you might find switching to vaping to be a better option. But if you don’t currently smoke, there’s no need to start smoking e-cigarettes or cigarettes. You’ll be better off not smoking at all.
But is vaping safe? As you can see above, there are some risks associated with e-cigarettes. You can become as addicted due to nicotine. If you’re going to use e-cigarettes, do your homework and go with the best options.
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