Vaping and electronic cigarettes are here to stay as a “less aggressive” and more fun alternative to “smoking,” but it is not entirely innocent. If you’ve been vaping for a while, learn what happens when you quit smoking and start vaping (and what can happen if you continue).
Vaping has become very popular, not only among young adults, but also among teenagers, because the various flavors and aromas make it seem harmless, but it is not.
What is the difference between vaping vs smoking?
Basically, vaping is different from smoking because it does not involve fire, cigarettes, or tobacco. Vaping involves the use of an electronic cigarette or vaporizer that emits a vapor when exhaled, although it is not actually a vapor and can be toxic.
According to the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women, vaping consists of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol through an electronic cigarette or similar device.
Although this exhaled vapor is often referred to as vapor, it is not water, but rather fine particles that contain varying amounts of toxic chemicals that have been linked to heart and respiratory disease.
In addition, most electronic cigarettes contain nicotine, in some cases similar to that of cigarettes, therefore when introduced into the body, it generates addiction, increasing the risk of suffering other addictions in adulthood if used during smoking. adolescence and slowing brain development.
Likewise, its flavors can have toxic effects, but because they are pleasant, you may not notice them. Finally, despite being light, vaping irritates and damages the lungs, which could lead to future damage.
What happens when you quit smoking and start vaping
Despite its popularity, vaping is undoubtedly not the healthiest option for quitting smoking or managing anxiety or stress. If you’ve been thinking about kicking the habit, here are 6 things that happen to your body when you quit vaping:
Relief for your cardiovascular system. Taking into account the effects of vaping, when you quit, your heart rate will normalize, your circulation will normalize, and your blood pressure will drop. Also, of course, your breathing will not become constricted.
Reduce your risk of heart attack. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, associated daily use of electronic cigarettes with an increased risk of myocardial infarction. So by kicking the habit, your risk will gradually decrease, in part because your cardiovascular system begins to reset itself.
Improve your senses. We are talking specifically about taste and smell. Have you heard of Vaping League Syndrome? Well, it exists.
According to a study by the National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado, many vapers have difficulty distinguishing between flavors after vaping because vaping causes an inhibition of the taste buds.
The good news is that when you quit, you can slowly regain your ability to taste food and other flavors.
Healthier lungs and greater lung capacity, so you can forget about that annoying constant cough. Months later, your risk of respiratory complications will be reduced.
Lower risk of stroke and cancer, something that is increased by electronic cigarettes and cigarettes.
Sure, these changes will be gradual, and many of the benefits will be long-term, plus you could face withdrawal symptoms, but continuing to vape doesn’t make the scenario any better.
What are the risks of vaping?
It is important to know the harms of vaping to your health and the risks you face if you continue with this habit. One of the first is nicotine addiction and also vaping tongue, which although not exactly known, could be related to future oral lesions.
Another major risk of vaping is lung damage. The Nemours Foundation explains that vaping irritates and damages the lungs, which can be serious as you inhale the particles of harmful chemicals.
In fact, in 2019, there was an outbreak of lung damage linked to the use of electronic cigarettes or vaping products in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This was mainly associated with products containing tetrahydrocannabiol and vitamin E acetate.
On the other hand, your ability to defend yourself against respiratory infections decreases, which puts you at greater risk of different infections, including covid-19, as you could suffer a serious complication, according to the National Commission against Addictions in Mexico.
Not to mention that the volatile organic compounds in the “vapor” can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as headaches. In some cases, they even cause damage to the liver, kidneys and nervous system, according to the American Cancer Society.
Although less common, there are other risks associated with the use of electronic cigarettes, such as injury from faulty batteries that can explode, or poisoning from swallowing, inhaling, or absorbing cigarette liquid through the skin or eyes. Not just for you, but for the little ones around you.
As you can see, as innocent and popular as vaping is, the damage it does to your body is actually quite similar to tobacco. Although quitting smoking is a great decision for your health, if you switch from cigarettes to vaping, you will continue to accumulate damage in the long run.
The recommendation will always be to break these habits and replace them with healthier ones. The best way to do this is to take it one step at a time by finding new ways to manage stress, cope with withdrawal symptoms, build a support system, and focus on future benefits.
Also read: Every time you smoke a cigarette, this is what you are actually consuming
