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Vaping has soared in popularity in recent years and with a lack of regulated information regarding vapes and the risks associated with vaping people often turn to vapes as a healthier, safer alternative to smoking.
The issue is that vaping can have serious side effects on your body and in some cases it can be even worse than smoking.
Here we look at what vaping is, how it was developed, and what effect vaping has on the body and other serious risks associated with vaping.
What Is Vaping?
Vaping is the act of inhaling vapor from an electronic cigarette or e-cig. The vapor that is exhaled by the user contains nicotine and other chemicals which are absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs.
This means that you can get the same kick using an e-cigarette as you would with any other form of smoking tobacco products.
The first e-cigarettes were invented in 1963 by Hon Lik at R&D Labs in China. He was looking for a way to quit smoking without going cold turkey.
In 1965, he developed his first prototype called “Smok”, which was a combination of smoking and vaping. It was made out of bamboo and looked like a regular pipe.
The modern e-cigarette was invented by Dr. Semyon Kovalchuck who started working on it as early as 1992. He patented his invention in 1996 and released it publicly in 2003.
His e-cigarette was designed to mimic the look and feel of a traditional cigarette so that people wouldn’t be able to tell they weren’t real cigarettes.
There are many types of e-cigs available today. Some contain nicotine while others do not. There are also some that come in flavors such as mint, chocolate, fruit punch, and bubblegum.
However, the flavors can be a distraction from the serious risks that vaping poses to your health.
What Are The Health Effects Of Vaping?
There are many health risks associated with vaping. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are over 1 million smokers in America alone.
If these numbers continue to rise, then we will see a huge increase in the number of vapers in the near future. Research continues to find out the long-term effects that vaping can do to your body, as vaping is still a relatively new form of consuming nicotine there is limited information.
Below we’ll list the risks associated with vaping and the health effects it can have on your body.
Slow Brain Development
Amongst teens vaping has become hugely popular. It has been found that vaping affects the development of the brain which affects memory, concentration, mood, and self-control. Adults vaping can also have detrimental effects on mood and concentration.
Lung Damage
Vape Juice contains vitamin E, but also other dangerous chemicals such as propylene glycol. When heated and inhaled, these chemicals cause serious health problems.
Popcorn lung is a common disease associated with vaping. Its real title is Bronchiolitis Obliterans, and it is a condition that affects the smallest airways in your lungs, causing a build-up of scar tissue that blocks the flow of air in and out of the lungs.
By inhaling these harmful chemical substances you are also putting yourself at risk of other lung diseases and lung cancer.
Oral Health
Inhaling nicotine and the concoction of dangerous chemicals found in vaping juices can cause immense trauma and damage to your oral health. Teeth become discolored, and the smoke can damage gums causing them to bleed and ache.
Over time teeth can begin to decay and developing gum disease becomes highly likely. While individually some chemicals in e-cigarettes can be ingested, they become highly toxic when they are heated in the vape, transformed into vapor, and inhaled.
Lipoid Pneumonia
This disease was once very uncommon but in recent years there have been more cases of it that are usually linked to vaping.
When vaping you are inhaling oily chemical substances found in vape juice. Inhaling these oily substances causes oily build-ups in the lungs over time, which sparks an inflammatory response.
Symptoms of this illness include coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and chronic coughing.
Typically if you are affected by Lipoid Pneumonia you will require hospitalization and some serious cases can result in long-lasting side effects or death.
Nicotine Addiction
Nicotine addiction is a very real risk associated with vaping. Those who become addicted to nicotine are more likely to develop addictions to other harmful substances.
Nicotine causes huge trauma to the body, affecting the lungs and the heart primarily, as well as discoloring the skin, teeth and affecting bodily odor.
While some vapes claim to not contain nicotine, all vape juices contain trace amounts which can also lead to addiction and pose risks to your health.
Other Risks Associated With Vaping
As more companies try to manufacture cheaper e-cigarettes, explosions have become common.
Marketing for e-cigarettes continues to be misleading, attempting to portray them as safer than smoking and hip and trendy to do. Poorly made e-cigarettes can explode due to faulty batteries and parts.
Explosions can result in burns to the user’s body and in some cases if the device explodes when left unattended it can result in a fire.
Those who vape are more likely to smoke as the nicotine cravings get worse as the addiction develops. The liquid from e-cigarettes vapor can also harm children, causing acute nicotine poisoning which can also affect vulnerable adults.
Medical studies continue to monitor the damage vaping can do to the body, but the risks outlined above should be scary enough for anyone to consider quitting and encouraging those around to also quit.
Vaping for any length of time increases your risk of lung disease, heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and strokes.
How Do Vapes And E-cigarettes Work?
E-cigarettes and vapes work by heating a liquid to create an aerosol that users inhale. The liquid can contain nicotine or other substances. E-cigarettes come in many forms, one of which being the vape. Some are used by adults while others are used by teens.
Many people use the Juul because it doesn’t create much smoke, meaning it can subtly be used in both indoor and outdoor settings.
A huge misconception people have is that the nicotine levels are lower in vapes and e-cigarettes. Nicotine levels are the same as regular cigarettes making them just as addictive as traditional cigarettes.
Why Should I Quit?
Vaping is just as harmful as smoking traditional cigarettes and while e-cigarettes are often offered as a cessation tool for smoking you are better off quitting both vaping and smoking.
The longer you vape, the more addicted to the nicotine you are likely to become. Nicotine permanently changes your brain, making it hard to think straight or control your impulses.
Quitting is the best way to reduce the risk of disease and to prevent any further damage from being done to your body.
If you are wondering if there are ways to minimize the damaging effects vaping has on your body the answer is to quit. That is the only way to protect your health.
How Can I Quit?
You can decide to quit smoking today, but it is a long journey. You will need to have patience and a determined attitude. Telling people is a great way to actually put your words into action while also getting support.
There are apps specifically designed to help with quitting vaping and smoking. Speaking with a medical professional is also a fantastic way of creating a quitting plan that is effective and safe.
Withdrawal symptoms include headache, fatigue, anger, depression, insomnia, and restlessness. These symptoms are associated with nicotine withdrawals and are a sign that your body is cleansing itself and reprogramming the brain to not crave nicotine anymore.
When an urge to vape occurs, try these things instead.
- Chewing sugar-free gum helps distract from the urge to vape.
- Reaching for a glass of water rather than a vape will help hydrate your body and encourage healthy habits.
- Listening to relaxing music will help prevent feelings of anxiety and stress.
- Taking a walk or jogging helps you to get exercise and is a great way of experiencing natural serotonin.
- Do something creative such as drawing or making jewelry to keep your hands and your mind occupied.
- Going somewhere where vaporizing isn’t allowed helps people to avoid secondhand smoke inhalation as well as preventing the temptation to vape.
Final Thoughts
If you vape we hope this piece will help to highlight why you should consider quitting. Quitting now is the best way to save some aspect of your quality of life.
The longer you vape for the more detrimental the side effects and diseases that you are at risk to become. Speak to a friend or a medical professional today to get started on your path to a healthier life. You may live to regret vaping, but you will never regret quitting.
