Can Vaping or E-cigarettes Damage your Lungs? Are These More Harmful Than Regular Cigarettes?

According to the FDA’s survey, more than 3 million teenagers are vaping or using e-cigarettes daily.

On No Tobacco Day (31 May 2024), WHO streams several campaigns to raise awareness regarding the ill effects of smoking and tobacco use. This year's theme is ‘Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference.’ 

Smoking has become a style statement; people think that if you are not smoking, then you are not ‘cool’ enough to hang with them. These days, people have started switching to vapes and e-cigarettes; some think that it is less harmful than the traditional ones, and some just follow the suit of the majority.

When talking about increasing vape usage, it is important to address how most of the users are teenagers or young adults. Studies show that almost 40% of high schoolers vape daily; it has become a cause of concern because many people think that vaping is not harmful as it does not contain the tar that the traditional cigarette has.

To minimize the availability of vapes or e-cigarettes and keep our youth away from their harmful impacts, our government has banned vapes since 2019. Even if they could be less dangerous than cigarettes, the harm still exists, so it is always better to be safe than sorry.

However, people are still using vapes and e-cigarettes despite the ban, thinking those are less harmful and sticking to their habit of smoking.

 So, the question remains the same.

Are vapes or e-cigarettes less harmful?

Is it true or not?

Don’t they hurt the lungs?

Let’s find out through this blog.

What are e-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes, also known as electronic cigarettes, e-cigs, or vape pens, are battery-operated devices designed to deliver nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals to the user in the form of an aerosol, commonly referred to as vapor. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco to produce smoke, e-cigarettes use a heating element to vaporize a liquid solution, often called e-liquid or vape juice.

According to the CDC, many experts believe that vapes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, but it does not mean that it does not have any effects, and you can keep on vaping without thinking of the consequences. 

Remember, it has not been long since vapes have come into existence, so no one knows what are their long-term effects and what harm they can entail.

What are the ingredients in the e-liquid?

Understanding the components of e-liquids is crucial if you want to know about the harm vapes are causing. These are the items present in the e-cigarettes:

• Nicotine: 

The addictive substance is also found in traditional cigarettes.

•  Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin: 

These substances are used to create the vapor.

•  Flavorings: 

Added to enhance the user experience, these can vary widely in chemical composition.

• Other Chemicals: 

E-liquids can contain a range of other substances depending on the product.

Nicotine and flavorings are the crucial elements that are responsible for making one addicted to vapes.

Effects of Vaping: How are they bad?

Vaping has multiple effects on your body, especially if you are a regular smoker. Yes, it can be slightly less harmful than regular cigarettes, but it is pretty impactful and can harm your body severely. Vapes impact different areas of your body, like the heart, lungs, immune system, etc. 

Let’s know about it’s impact:

• Vapes and Lungs:

According to the scientists, the liquid present in the e-cigarettes has the potential to damage your lungs very badly. Vaping poses risks to lung health due to inhaling aerosols containing nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. 

Acute symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath, chronic lung conditions, and severe lung injuries like EVALI are associated with vaping. 

EVALI is a medical condition that is caused when a person’s lungs get because of the substances present in vapes. Fine particles in e-cigarette aerosols can cause inflammation and lung damage.

Despite being thought of as a safer alternative to smoking, vaping isn't risk-free and may exacerbate respiratory issues. Further research is needed to fully understand vaping's long-term effects on lung health and inform public health policies.

• Vapes and Heart:

Vaping, the act of inhaling and exhaling vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device, has raised concerns regarding its impact on heart health. 

While research is ongoing, studies suggest that vaping can have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system even more than they have on the lungs.

 The aerosol from e-cigarettes contains harmful chemicals that can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes. 

Nicotine is an essential ingredient in vape liquids and can raise blood pressure and heart rate, further straining the heart. Long-term vaping may contribute to the development of heart problems, underscoring the importance of caution and further investigation.

• Vapes and Immunity:

Vaping's impact on the immune system has become a new concern. While research is ongoing, evidence suggests that vaping can weaken the body's defenses against infections and illnesses.

 The chemicals in vape aerosols, including propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, can irritate the respiratory tract, making it more susceptible to infections like pneumonia and bronchitis. 

Additionally, nicotine has been shown to suppress the immune response, reducing the body's ability to fight pathogens invading the body. 

Long-term vaping may compromise the immune system's ability to function optimally, increasing the risk of respiratory infections and other health complications. However, further research is required to understand all the ways vapes have been impacting the immune system.

• Vapes and Brain:

 Nicotine, a primary component in vape liquids, can alter brain chemistry, particularly in adolescents whose brains are still developing. 

Studies suggest nicotine exposure during this critical period can lead to changes in attention, learning, and impulse control. Moreover, the chemicals in vape aerosols can damage brain cells and disrupt neurotransmitter function. 

Some research indicates a link between vaping and increased risk of mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. While more research is needed, these findings underscore the potential harm vaping can pose to brain health, especially among young users.

These are some of the effects that are known about vaping, or there could be more impacts that could be much more severe, and we are yet to find that out. Vapes are pretty new in the tobacco industry, so there is no way to find out about their long-term effects. That is why doctors say that even though they are less harmful than cigarettes, they could have worse effects in the long run. So, it is better to avoid vapes.

If you have yet to vape, do not start!

 And if you are a regular smoker, try quitting.

Ways to Quit Vaping:

If you are looking for ways to quit vaping, here are some of the things you can follow:

Quitting vaping can be challenging, but several effective strategies can help:

• Set a Quit Date: 

Choose a specific day to stop vaping and mark it on your calendar.

• Identify Triggers: 

Recognize situations, emotions, or habits that prompt you to vape and plan alternatives.

• Seek Support: 

Talk to friends and family, or join a support group. Consider counseling or behavioral therapy.

• Use Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): 

Options like patches, gum, or lozenges can help manage withdrawal symptoms.

• Stay Busy: 

Engage in activities that distract you from cravings, such as exercise, hobbies, or learning new skills.

• Avoid Temptation: 

Remove vaping devices and supplies from your home, car, and workplace.

• Stay Positive: 

Celebrate small victories and remind yourself of the benefits of quitting, such as improved health and saving money.

• Consult Healthcare Providers: 

They can offer guidance and resources and prescribe medications to assist in quitting. 

Consistency and persistence are key to successfully quitting vaping.

Key Takeaway:

Vapes have become way too common among young adults, but studies even show that 34% of the ones that lie between 18-35 want to quit vaping. There haven’t been many studies on vaping, but it is harmful, and people are always recommended to stay away because we don’t know what impacts vaping entails in the long run.

In this blog, you learn everything about how vaping is affecting your body and how you can tackle it.

This No Tobacco Day, pledge to quit anything and everything that contains tobacco.