The Vape Talk : Aid to Quit Smoking or Roadway to Addiction?

Vaping is considered the safer alternative to smoking, but is it entirely safe?

Highlights:

Vaping is a rising public health concern especially among the young population
There is a rise of vaping among teenagers due to the marketing strategies targeting them
Vaping affects cardio-respiratory health and might even pave way to substance abuse

Vaping is a method of inhaling vapor created by electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or other vaping devices. E-cigarettes are devices that allow you to inhale nicotine in vapor rather than smoke. Electronic cigarettes are also called "e-cigs," "vapes," "e-hookahs," "vape pens," and "electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)." Some of these devices resemble regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some even look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items ().

Vaping E-cigarettes: A Hidden Threat Behind a Cloud of Smoke
Is vaping electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) bad for your heart and lung health? Yes, chemicals in e-cigarette liquids can pose a huge threat to human health.

‘Vaping, the emerging youth pandemic has mutated into many evil forms including substance abuse. #Vaping #NicotineAddiction’

Vaping Vs Smoking

The common difference between smoking and vaping is that smoking releases nicotine through the burning of tobacco. On the other side, heating an e-liquid during vaping can give nicotine. E-liquid also has propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavoring as foundation ingredients. Cannabis was also being vaped more and more with e-cigarettes ().

All You Need to Know About E-cigarettes
E- cigarettes, a new device to counter the disease burden of tobacco smoking.

Is Vaping Safer than Smoking?

The common assumption is that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking because there is no combustion. But this alternative is not entirely safe because studies suggest that vaping is linked to cardio-respiratory disorders ().

E-cigarettes May Trigger Risk of Smoking Among Youth
E-cigarettes mimic smoking behavior through similar involvement of hand-to-mouth movements, or puffing and exhalation.

Vaping : The Youth Epidemic

1 out of every 20 people in the US vape, with the consumption of e-cigarettes by adolescents rising by 1,800% since the previous year. The rate of vaping has skyrocketed, especially among teens.

Teenagers are the main target of advertisements for e-cigarettes. Pods come in entertaining packaging. There are many flavors designed to appeal to teenagers, including mint, gummy bear, and frosted sugar cookies. This is alarming because studies have found that flavor is the most crucial aspects young people take into account when deciding whether to try e-cigarettes ().

JUUL is the most common e-cigarette brand used in the U.S, it is so popular that teens use JUULing as a verb. JUUL pods contain 59 mg/ml of nicotine. This is approximately equal to the nicotine contained in 20 combustible cigarettes ().

Flavorings Used in E-Cigarettes Can Up Your Risk for Heart Disease
Flavoring liquids such as cinnamon and menthol used in electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes are not safe and may increase the risk of heart disease when inhaled.

Vaping and its Harmful Effects

E-cigarettes can contain other harmful substances besides nicotine such as Diacetyl, Vitamin E Acetate, etc.

Vapes can contain the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer and bug spray.

Nicotine’s Effect on Teens

The nicotine of 1 vape can equal 50 cigarettes.

Nicotine can harm adolescent brain development. Until the age of 25 the brain continues to develop. Stronger connections, or synapses, are formed between brain cells each time a new memory or ability is gained. The brains of children develop synapses more quickly than those of adults. These synapses are hindered in response to nicotine ().

Anxiety and Depression

Vaping is a known cause of depression and anxiety in young people.

Vaping might become a coping mechanism for individuals dealing with stress or anxiety. This can create a cycle where using vaping to relieve stress or anxiety leads to dependence, which can ultimately worsen anxiety ().

Cardio-Respiratory Disorders

Vaping has also been associated with potential adverse effects on the heart and lungs from COPD to heart failure.

It can increase heart rate and blood pressure, potentially putting strain on the heart ().

Diacetyl is frequently added to flavored e-liquid to enhance the taste. Inhaling diacetyl causes permanent scarring in the smallest branches of the airways . This condition is called popcorn lung, it makes breathing difficult and has no cure.

Vaping-related lipoid pneumonia is the result of inhaling oily substances found in e-liquid, which sparks an inflammatory response in the lungs. Symptoms of lipoid pneumonia include coughing up blood ().

Vaping Paves Way to Future Smoking and Drug Addiction

Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.

Nicotine, which is present in many e-cigarettes, is an addictive substance. Nicotine use can lead to changes in the brain that make a person more susceptible to addiction.

Young people who vape are more likely to try cigarettes, marijuana, and other drugs. They were also more likely to have a history of substance use ().

“It’s glamorous on film, but it’s not glamorous waking up and smelling like an ashtray.” – John Hamm

Despite the fact that vaping has been marketed as a safer and healthier smoking alternative and a smoking cessation method, vaping has been found to have similar effects to smoking on lung function and cardiovascular function.

If you or someone you know is dealing with vaping addiction, it's essential to seek help from healthcare professionals or addiction support organizations.

Remember, A smile looks beautiful on your lips than a cigarette or a vape, any day!

References:

Youth vaping: a review and update on global epidemiology, physical and behavioral health risks, and clinical considerations - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8364775/)
What the Health: What is the difference between smoking and vaping? - (https://habs.uq.edu.au/article/2022/06/what-health-what-difference-between-smoking-and-vaping)
The Vaping Epidemic in Adolescents - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023954/)
Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults - (https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html)
3 ways vaping affects mental health - (https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/targeted-communities/3-ways-vaping-affects-mental-health)
New AHA statement reveals youth vaping is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease - (https://medicine.osu.edu/news/youth-vaping-linked-cardiovascular-disease)
The Unhealthy Association Between Smoking, Vaping, and Other Drug Use - (https://academic.oup.com/ntr/article/24/8/1139/6588418)

Source-Medindia