Why Vaping is a Healthier Option than Cigarettes
It’s general knowledge that smoking is dangerous to human health. Yet, many aren’t ready to quit this habit for anything. Recently, vaping (e-cigarettes was introduced into the market. And many experts have concluded that it is a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes. It is believed that vaping does not result in as many side effects as smoking.
If you have been trying to quit smoking, you are not alone. Thousands of people globally are trying to quit this unhealthy habit. However, as you try different methods, you may be tempted to resolve to e-cigarettes as a means to escape the dangers of smoking. Can e-cigarettes help you quit smoking? Are they a better alternative to smoking? Here is everything you need to know.
What is Vaping?
Vaping is the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or other vaping devices to inhale the vapor. These devices are battery-powered, and they are usually loaded with little cartridges that contain the e-liquid made of nicotine and other chemicals. The device heats this liquid, causing it to release a vapor that is inhaled.
There are a variety of vaping devices on the market. The most popular are e-cigarettes such as JUUL and stlth. The latter is slightly larger and taller than JUUL, with a larger battery that doubles that of JUUL. Stlth compatible pods hold more e-liquid, making it a compelling option for vapers who prefer a larger e-liquid capacity for a better vaping experience.
How Does Vaping Work?
Vaping devices are available in different sizes, colors, and shapes. These devices release aerosol by-products when heated, which consist of chemicals like nicotine mixed with flavorings. This makes vaping seem less harsh than smoking. The heat is inhaled directly into the lungs and expelled as vapor through the nose or mouth.
The Side Effects of Vaping and Smoking
Both smokers and vape users are liable to suffer some health challenges. According to a CDC report, smoking has long term effects in the body, and they include:
- Risks of cataracts
- Immune system malfunction
- Causes general inflammation
- Reduces sperm count
- It could lead to cancer in any part of the body
- It increases the risk of miscarriage or congenital disabilities.
Just like smoking, vaping has long term effects on the body. Although there is no sufficient data to support this fact, a report by many health specialists endorses the idea that vaping is a much healthier way of consuming nicotine.
Still, this does not rule out the fact that it has some severe side effects on the long term, which include:
- Memory retardation
- Immune system imbalance
- Damage the lungs
- Produces free radicals that may trigger the development of cancer in the body
- Delay in brain development in fetuses and children
Why is Vaping Less Harmful than Smoking?
Since neither smoking nor vaping is beneficial to human health, our focus is whether one of them is less harmful than the other? Many theories demonstrate that a smoker inhales 7000 chemicals while a vape user does not inhale that much.
According to a report by AHA, there are fewer contaminants in vaping liquid than in cigarettes. Many vape users also consider it the “new normal” as more smokers looking for ways to quit the habit seek solace in vaping.
However, the primary difference between cigarettes and vaping devices is that the former contains tobacco, while the latter has no tobacco. But tobacco is not the only constituent in cigarettes that triggers those fatal symptoms. There are many other chemicals in cigarettes that make them dangerous to human life. And some of these chemicals are present in e-cigarette too.
Nevertheless, considering how vaping works, it could be enough evidence for many to think that it is a better option than smoking.
Can Vaping Help Smokers Quit Smoking?
For a company to claim that its product can help a group of people, especially smokers quit a habit such as nicotine
Addiction, it must provide concrete evidence and studies to the FDA to prove that the product is effective and safe for such purpose.
Presently, no studies are looking at the possibility of using an e-cigarette to help smokers quit smoking. If at all there are any, it could be those gathered from the self-reported use of cigarettes.
The Bottom Line
Vaping has been around for some time. But there are not enough studies to demonstrate whether or not they are a perfect substitute for smokers. However, there are many dangers associated with smoking. And the absence of tobacco in vaping e-liquid may mean that it is a better option even though none of them is a healthy habit. More research is needed to conclude whether smokers should see vaping as a healthier option. Perhaps, future studies will no longer reveal a thin line between these two habits.
