Praachi K Verma

Is Vaping Bad for You? Vaping was introduced to the world in 2003 when it first appeared in the Chinese market. Initially marketed as a smoking cessation tool, vaping has now become an addiction tool that has caused an outbreak of lung injuries across the world. Vaping is the most commonly used form of nicotine amongst youth today in the United States and Canada. Many users turn to vaping to ease their transition from cigarettes to no smoking. But most teenagers use it out of curiosity or because they believe that these products are less harmful than conventional cigarettes. The FDA doesn’t approve E-cigarette as a quit-aid for tobacco smoking in the lack of any conclusive scientific evidence on its effectiveness on long-term smoking cessation. Research also shows that vaping may have a negative impact on health. What is Vaping The act of inhaling a vaporized liquid is called vaping. E-cigarettes, e-cigs, vape pen, vape pods, JUUL, irrespective of their names, they are all basically the same things. It is a battery-powered device with an atomizer, which heats the e-liquid and a cartridge which stores the flavored e-liquid. The coil attached to the atomizer tank is powered by the battery to vaporize the liquid, allowing the user to “vape” or inhale the aerosol vapours. Vaping limits the user’s exposure to many harmful chemicals and particulate matter and hence, it is considered safer than conventional cigarette smoking. However, e-cigarettes are considered tobacco products because the constituents of e-liquid or e-juice are nicotine, a base like propylene glycol, and flavoring. The e-liquid also contain many harmful ingredients like volatile organic compounds, ultrafine particles, and heavy metals such as lead, tin, and nickel. The ​CDC & ​FDA warns people from purchasing e-cigarettes or vaping products from informal sources like friends, family, or in-person or online dealers. They further recommend not to modify or add any substances, such as THC or other oils, to vaping products. Why Do People Vape? Vaping is not always used as a way to stop or cut-down smoking. Nowadays, more people are indulging in vaping for fun or fad than as an alternative to conventional smoking. Many youngsters are not aware that e-cigarettes contains nicotine and gets dragged to its alluring advertisements and the variety of e-liquid flavors. Many of them indulge in vaping for pleasure, also knowing that it is a safer alternative to smoking. Some people switch to vaping as a cheaper option to nicotine addiction. Juul is one of the top selling brands of e-cigarette in U.S and a single unit is supposed to contain as much nicotine as 20 cigarettes. Health Risks Associated With Vaping E-cigarette can benefit some adult users who are not pregnant, to quit smoking. However, a study revealed that e-cigarette users are less likely to quit smoking than those who do not use e-cigarette. Although, vaping is considered less harmful than traditional combustible cigarettes, there are still many known risks of vaping: ● Because of the presence of high level of nicotine, vaping is highly addictive. Not just that, nicotine can harm adolescent brain development and is considered hazardous during pregnancy. ● As nicotine affects the development of the brain's reward system, continued vaping can not just lead to nicotine addiction but also make other drugs like cocaine, more pleasurable. ● Vitamin E acetate, an additive in the THC-containing vaping products has been strongly linked to the EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury) outbreak. This vitamin E acetate, when inhaled with the use of vaping products may interfere with normal lung functioning. As of January 2020, the ​CDC confirmed 57 deaths in patients hospitalized for EVALI. ● A study from the ​University of North Carolina found that two standard base ingredients in e-cigarettes – propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin – are considered toxic. E-liquid also contains acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde, which are known to cause lung diseases and bladder cancer. A study by the ​American Journal of Medicine demonstrated that people who use e-cigarettes + combustible cigarettes had higher rate of cardiovascular diseases than those who smoked only cigarettes. ● The CDC reports that cancer-causing chemicals are present in e-liquids. Also, the American Cancer Society notes that formaldehyde formation occurs when the e-liquid is overheated or when the device is low on e-liquid. Formaldehyde exposure has been linked to many short-term health effects like wheezing, eye and skin irritation, nausea, and coughing– as well as leukemia. ● E-cigarettes also contains a chemical called acrolein, which can ​cause COPD, asthma, and lung cancer. ● A substance known as dicetyl found in e-cigarettes can ​cause a severe and irreversible lung condition known as “popcorn lung”. ● Defective e-cigarette batteries can cause an explosion. Most of these incidents occurred when the batteries were being charged and have lead to severe injuries. How to Quit Vaping? To quit a product which was meant to help you quit smoking might sound weird, but e-cigarettes are designed in such a way that they are more addictive and harder to quit than combustible cigarettes. Many users are trying hard to kick their vaping addiction. Managing the withdrawal symptoms like cravings, depression, and irritability is the key to a successful quitting. You can try some of these steps to help you quit vaping: ● Get support for vaping addiction: Getting help from a professional who has experience with smoking cessation makes the road ahead easy and effective for you. There are many websites like ​smokefree.gov and ​lung.org which helps you to develop a quitting plan and gives you information and resources to move ahead. ● Know the health risks associated with vaping: Knowing the health risks of vaping often works as the first step to motivate you and helps you to halt your vaping addiction. ● Seek professional help and set a quit date: Online support and apps are helpful but to meet a cessation expert in person can be impactful. Also, regular follow ups and counselling increases the chances of quitting permanently. ● Nicotine replacement options: Weaning off an addiction is not everyone’s cup of tea, if such is the case, you can try nicotine replacement therapy. When nicotine craving strikes, you can use a nicotine patch, lozenges, gum or nasal spray. ● Go cold turkey: ​QuitGo inhaler looks and feels like cigarette and helps you to cope with craving as it delivers nicotine-free and pure air with flavorings and pyruvic acid (an organic acid found in the human body). It is a nicotine-free way to help you overcome the urge to smoke. ● Indulge in activities: Distraction will help you turn away from those constant cravings. ● Take support of friends and family and distance yourself from friends and people who still vape. Sources​: 5 Vaping Facts You Need to Know hopkinsmedicine.org Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products www.cdc.gov What we know about the mysterious vaping-linked illness and deaths www.washingtonpost.com Are e-cigarettes a safe alternative to smoking? www.medicalnewstoday.com E-Cigarettes www.lung.org Vaping Illnesses Climb Upward, Nearing 1,300 With 29 Deaths www.nytimes.com Vaping Devices (Electronic Cigarettes) www.drugabuse.gov Why Do People Vape? What Are the Benefits? smash-eliquid.com Know the Risks e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov