Why Vaping Isn't As Harmless as Many Think

What is Vaping?

Vaping is a popularized term for smoking e-cigarettes, which can also be referred to as “juuling”. E-cigarettes work by producing an aerosol as it heats up a specific liquid made for it. This liquid can contain many different substances, most commonly nicotine, chemicals used for the aerosol, and fragrances that can be “personalized”. 
These e-cigarettes might come in many shapes and sizes, but their use is pretty much the same in all cases: smoking. They come with batteries, with a device for heating the liquids in it, and a place to hold the liquids. As for shape, they can be shaped like a cigarette, a cigar, or a pipe. If you have heard of the famous “JUUL”s, those look more like a pen drive. And there are other models, like tank systems, or “mods.”
Since these devices can be used for smoking liquid substances, some people also include other “ingredients” in their e-cigarettes, like concentrated marijuana. Reported cases of drug abuse have also involved the use of these vaporizers, as liquid-form drugs such as synthetic opioids can be made into concentrates that are compatible and usable via e-cigarettes. 
Nonetheless, the people most at risk of using e-cigarettes currently are the younger generations – even as young as high-school students. There are many reasons for this trend, which are: the fact that it is cheaper, the belief that it is safer, and lastly, the many options of flavorings which substitute the usual smell of smoke left by regular cigarettes. 

The Truth About Vaping – Is It Dangerous?

There are some misconceptions surrounding the habit of vaping, and many don’t realize it. What’s worse is that these myths tend to be the basis for many to start using it. To make it clear:

1) E-cigarettes Are As Addictive As Regular Ones

A most common idea people have about vaping is that it is not addictive. One of the things that makes smoking addictive is the consumption of nicotine. Since tobacco is present in the liquid and aerosol produced by e-cigarettes, there’s no reason to believe that it would be less addictive than regular ones, or that they wouldn’t be addictive at all.

2) E-cigarettes Aren’t The Best Option To Quit Smoking

Some smokers have used vaping as a “transition” method to quit smoking altogether, and e-cigarettes have even been marketed to be used as such. While the technique supposedly worked for some, it is not at all recommended to use e-cigarettes for that purpose. In fact, some end up using both electronic devices and regular cigarettes. Additionally, the FDA has never given them the approval to be sold as smoking cessation products.

3) E-cigarettes Are, In Fact, Bad For Your Health

As previously mentioned, liquids used for vaping include tobacco in them, too. So the fact that the user is exposed to the toxin in regular cigarettes that have been linked to cancer in the past makes vaping risky. There are also other substances in e-cigarettes which can be found in paint and glue, although it is not clear what the effects of consuming them can be. 
While many use the argument that there haven’t been diagnosed cases of cancer, long-term effects might take years to manifest themselves, and vaping is quite a recent trend. However, there have been reported cases of lung disease linked to vaping, which we will discuss shortly.

4) E-cigarettes Can Be Just As Harmful As Smoking

Another popular misconception is that, while it does contain tobacco, an e-cigarette won’t cause as much harm as regular cigarettes. Not only is this unornamented, but it is a dangerous misconception considering how this is what makes teenagers think it is okay to consume it. The main “logic” behind this idea is that e-cigarettes contain less nicotine in them, but this can be debunked by the fact that there are extra-strength cartridges of nicotine available for e-cigarettes. 
Besides the fact that there is exposure to nicotine when vaping, a user’s health condition and limitation should also be considered. For people that suffer from asthma, for instance, e-cigarettes can irritate the lungs and the throat. 

What Could Be The Effects? – The Data

As mentioned before, since vaping is something quite new, there have been only a few studies or cases on the long-term effects of consuming e-cigarettes. For starters, we can bring up the fact that there is still nicotine present in the vapors produced by e-cigarettes, increasing the chances of addiction, as well as other possible consequences such as cancer. 
Other issues linked to the inhalation of substances produced by e-cigarettes are difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. As a matter of fact, these symptoms have been reported in severe cases of lung disease associated with vaping. Fatigue, diarrhea, and vomiting have been reported as well, even if not as common. 
As of right now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is involved in at least 193 cases in which vaping-related lung illnesses reports are being investigated. Recently, cases of people hospitalized have drawn attention to the issue at hand, and not just for symptoms linked to nicotine.
The presence of abnormal immune cells in the lungs of one 20-year-old was proof that there are also problems caused by the chemicals used in vaping. The reason why it caught the doctors’ attention was the fact that these cells are only usually found in aged lungs, and are associated with inhalation of droplets from oil-based laxatives, causing rare and deadly pneumonia.

Conclusion: Should I Quit Vaping?

Right now, there are many reasons to believe vaping is a bad idea. The possible side effects alone should make you rethink the habit. If you are hoping to quit smoking through vaping, you can find safer, recommended, and FDA-approved products in many stores that have been proven more effective. Many doctors have come out against e-cigarettes and believe it to be unhealthy, with dangerous side effects.
If you also suffer from any respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, that is another risk factor for vaping, as it might worsen your condition or cause additional problems, episodes, etc.
If you or someone you know is dealing with addiction or mental illness, please feel free to contact our team at Amethyst Recovery today.

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html