As vaping skyrockets in the modern era, it is not uncommon to see more and more enthusiasts gaining interest. From curiosity to thought-provoking advancements, vapes continue to generate topical discussions. The vape devices are sleek and advanced and are a great and fashionable alternative to conventional smoking, hence sparking interest.
Beneath its stylish and appealing surface lies a labyrinth of facts that every beginning and seasoned vaper should unravel. Understanding these facts is essential for several reasons. One is to understand the possible impacts of vaping, both the benefits and risks linked to these contemporary habits.
Here, we collated facts that we deemed would help create awareness and provide credible insights. They are essential for both beginners and experienced vapers to help you better understand your product and habit. It’s time to debunk myths and misconceptions you have come around to and empower you to make informed choices regarding vaping.
What is Vaping?
Vaping is a habit or act of using e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, to inhale vapor. Vapes are devices that use cartridges filled with liquids that contain nicotine (a psychoactive drug of tobacco), artificial flavorings, and different chemicals. The device heats the liquid to produce vapors that vapers breathe in.
Vaping Facts
Vaping is less harmful than smoking but not safe
Vaping is relatively different from smoking. Essentially, smoking entails burning tobacco to create smoke which is harmful to users. Typical tobacco used in traditional cigarettes contains 7000 chemicals, and most of them are toxic. Vaping, on the contrary, burns nicotine, which is extracted from tobacco and is less harmful but not entirely safe.
The vape device heats and flavors nicotine to create an aerosol that vapers inhale. While we cannot ascertain the number of chemicals in e-cigarettes, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows there have been lung injuries associated with vaping.
However, it is worth noting that while indeed there have been health complications, the cases appeared to mainly affect people who modify their vaping kits or vapers who use black market-modified e-liquids. Therefore, to be on the safe side, we advise against modifying your vaping devices and obtaining your vape kits from unregulated sources.
Vaping is just as addictive as conventional smoking
Vaping devices and regular cigarettes contain nicotine, which is just as addictive as substances like cocaine or heroin. A vaper, however, gets more nicotine when vaping than when using combustible tobacco products. It gets worse if they opt for vapes with extra-strength cartridges that have a higher concentration of nicotine to get a better hit of the substance. This is a habit that has grown among young people for various reasons like lower per-use cost compared to traditional cigarettes.
Also, a considerable number consider vaping as a cooler way of smoking; hence, vaping is their way to fit in. This has been a key contributor to vape popularity, consequently increasing the risk of becoming addicted to vaping due to the addictive aspect of nicotine.
Vaping can be used as a smoking cessation tool
Vape devices are always promoted as a harm-reduction tool, especially for smokers. This is a marketing approach used mainly to allure adults who need help to stop smoking. The vaping kits are designed to deliver nicotine without many harmful chemicals. Therefore, for some smokers, shifting to vaping alleviates their exposure to detrimental substances like carbon monoxide and tar.
The vaping habit also emulates the physical and behavioral aspects of smoking that people find useful when trying to quit smoking. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking cessation can be different, as it mainly depends on its usage; hence, not all smokers successfully quit.
Vaping affects cardiovascular and respiratory systems
This is an unpopular fact, but vaping is a major contributor to respiratory problems. Vaping for long, the flavored vapors results in lung irritation, resulting in coughs and breath shortage. A common health issue is EVALI, a lung injury that has had vapers hospitalized and even claimed the lives of a substantial number of them.
In e-liquid, you find Nicotine stimulants that majorly affect cardiovascular health. Vapers who become fond of inhaling this chemical increase the risk of high heart rate and blood pressure. This can strain blood vessels or the heart, leading to heart attacks, stroke, and hypertension.
Moreover, regular vapers tend to be overexposed to harmful chemicals like Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen created when e-liquid overheats. They are also exposed to toxic substances such as Acrolein, found in e-cigarette vapor, linked to lung damage. It is one of the key contributors to chronic respiratory conditions.
Vaping is a gateway to smoking
When vaping, one is 3 times more likely to take up smoking cigarettes. Surprised? We were too. A study shows people may start vaping as a seemingly harmless habit. But this quickly escalates into a full-blown addiction and then to conventional tobacco. Although there is no doubt that the flavored e-liquids and misconceptions are less harmful, they also lead vapers down a slippery slope.
Nicotine-free vape can still contain nicotine
‘Nicotine-free’ vapes are marketed to be a great alternative for those who would want to indulge in vaping without the concern of nicotine stimulants. Well, we do not mean to bust your bubble, but this is not always the case. Sources reveal that while some e-liquids are marked and sold as “nicotine-free,” there are traces of nicotine. However, note this may be an unintentional mistake resulting from contamination during manufacturing.
Other times, brands deliberate misinformation, especially for people seeking to start vaping as a way to quit smoking or cut nicotine intake. This is a deception that can, in the long run, result in nicotine addiction. This inconsistency underscores the need for stern regulatory oversight of vape products.
One vape can be equivalent to 50 cigarettes
Nicotine in a vape may vary depending on the brand or e-liquid used. However, in most cases, the nicotine concentration is equivalent to approximately 50 cigarettes. This comparison is based on the nicotine content per milliliter of e-liquid and the amount consumed in one vaping session. Vape devices are known to deliver nicotine more efficiently than traditional cigarettes.
Vaping alters how your brain works
Nicotine found in most vape devices reaches the human brain in 10 seconds. It triggers dopamine, a brain chemical that often makes vapers feel good, a feeling that is often short-lived, hence the need to keep vaping.
When the brain is continuously exposed, its functionality changes, resulting in consistent cravings. Vaping is also known to affect the brain’s ability to focus or learn and memory, which leads to addiction.
Conclusion
In nutshell, we have always advocated for people to check the factsheet of a product before or as they use it. Learning and understanding this fact is important for both novice and experienced vapers. You gain insight to help you better understand your products and whether or not to continue vaping.
We understand that some of these facts may come as a surprise, as vaping has always been marketed as a better alternative to smoking. By looking beyond this fact, it is evident that although vaping has its benefits, it has its share of health risks.
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