If you are thinking about kicking your smoking habit, you are not alone. Nearly 6 of 10 chain smokers say they want to quit. Quitting all forms of smoking is the best gift you can give to yourself as it harms nearly every organ and tissue in your body, from the heart to kidneys, and blood vessels to the brain. Statistics show that almost one-third of all deaths from cardiovascular disease are secondary to active smoking or passive (secondhand) smoking.
As a safe way to quitting smoking or to ease the transition from traditional cigarettes, you might be tempted to turn to smoke alternatives such as e-cigarettes, vape pens, and other similar devices. But is vaping (smoking e-cigarettes) is a safe alternative or better for your health than using traditional tobacco products? Can vaping help you stop smoking tobacco once and for all?
The answer is NO! And there are obvious reasons for that.
Read on to find out three scientifically-proven reasons why vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking.
1. Vaping is harmful for your lungs and heart
According to recent research from Queen’s University Belfast, vaping can be more harmful to the body – including the lungs and heart - than smoking tobacco. The researchers discovered that pathogens found naturally in the lungs become more damaging and cause increased inflammation and swelling when exposed to e-cigarettes.
The three-year-long study supports evidence that smoking e-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to tobacco smoking. In January 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that ENDs (electronic nicotine delivery systems) were not safe, harmful to health, and particularly risky when it comes to children and adolescents.
Nicotine is the most common agent in both ENDs and regular cigarettes. This chemical is highly addictive and causes smoking cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine is also toxic to the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, brain, and blood vessels. It raises your blood pressure, causes narrowing of the blood vessels and spikes adrenaline production - which increases your blood pressure, heart rate, and the heart’s workload – leading to the likelihood of having a stroke or a heart attack.
2. Smoking e-cigarettes are just as addictive as traditional cigarettes
Both traditional and e-cigarettes contain nicotine and other addictive chemicals, which research and clinical trials suggest are not less addictive than heroin and cocaine. Furthermore, many e-cigarette smokers get even more toxic chemicals than they would from a regular tobacco product. Statistics have shown that such people - in an attempt to quit smoking - ends up increasing the e-cigarette’s voltage or buying extra-strength cartridges, which have a higher concentration of nicotine. This causes more addiction than regular cigarettes.
3. Electronic cigarettes or ENDs are not the best smoking cessation tool
Most END sellers marketed e-cigarettes as an aid to help quit smoking; however, they have not received approval from the FDA (food and drug administration) as smoking cessation devices. According to a recent study, most people who intended to use e-cigarettes or other vaping devices to kick the tobacco habit ended up continuing to smoke both ENDs and traditional cigarettes.
The best way to smoking cessation is by avoiding triggers, practicing relaxation techniques, and getting help from health care professionals.