The leading cause of death worldwide is smoking. It is well-known that smoking can cause lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), lung cancer is second in incidence among men and women after breast and prostate cancer. Many health organizations are working hard to encourage people not to smoke. We all know that quitting smoking is difficult and that withdrawal symptoms can be very challenging.
People who smoke and find it challenging to quit tend to seek alternative methods.
E-cigarettes have been gaining popularity as an alternative to smoking. It is interesting to note that electronic cigarettes, also known as vaping, are marketed as a safe way to smoke. Is that true? Is there any evidence that vaping is better than smoking? Are there really any “benefits”? Let’s take a look at important facts about vaping and smoking cigarettes.
What’s the difference between smoking and vaping?
Vaping has different substances than smoking.
Traditional smoking involves inhaling the smoke from a cigarette through the mouth and exhaling through the nose. The body is exposed to a lot of toxic byproducts from smoking.
Vaping is a way to inhale the vapor created by heating the liquid and chemicals in the cartridge using a battery-operated device. It is not possible to inhale smoke because there is no combustion.
Vaping chemicals vs. smoking chemicals is another difference. Research shows that regular cigarettes expose you to approximately 7,000 chemicals. These chemicals are most toxic to the human body. Vaping exposes you only to a smaller amount because there is no combustion.
Is vaping more effective than smoking?
The risk reduction strategy for long-term smoking was the reason that vaping was created. Although vaping is promoted as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes and vaping is more popular than vaping, smokers should be aware of the fact that nicotine plays the most extensive role in providing pleasure for the vapers.
Smokers can become addicted to nicotine, whether they smoke cigarettes or vape. Most doctors don’t see any difference in terms of health risks. Let’s take a look at the effects it has on the body.
Smoking can cause damage to every organ of the body. Smoking cigarettes can cause asthma attacks, weaken the immune system, increase the chances of infertility, and reduce the likelihood of congenital disabilities. It also causes congenital disorders, decreases sperm count, and increases the risk of infertility. Vaping can cause irritation to the lungs and slow brain development in teenagers, affecting memory, learning, and mood. It also weakens immunity and promotes the growth of cancer.
The American Lung Association has revealed that recent studies have shown that vaping is contributing to an increase in Bronchiolitis Obliterans. This severe condition damages the smallest of the airways and can cause you to cough, wheeze, and feel short of breath.
Vaping or Smoking: Which is worse?
There are no health benefits to vaping or smoking. Although vaping seems more harmful than smoking, both can pose health risks that could affect your health and your family’s. Children, particularly non-smokers, are at greater risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases if exposed to smoke or vapor.
Vaping and smoking are both harmful to your health. According to experts and rehab professionals from havenhouserecovery.com, vaping is more dangerous than smoking. This is not to say that vaping is risk-free. The AHA states that vaping liquids are safer than smoking cigarettes but contain more contaminants than cigarettes. Secondhand smoke can contain more than 7000 chemicals. Many of these chemicals can cause cancer, with around 70 being toxic.
Vaping
The following are reasons why vaping may pose a risk to someone who uses it:
- E-cigarettes may contain large amounts of nicotine. This substance is known to slow down the development of brains in children and adolescents.
- Adults and children can inhale the liquid that makes the vapor, swallow it, or apply it to their skin.
- You can also vape dangerous chemicals like diacetyl and heavy metals.
- As vaping becomes more popular, it may be able to replace smoking.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there were approximately 2,800 deaths or hospitalizations in the early 2020s, with 68 deaths due to vaping. However, the CDC acknowledges that since the reduction of vitamin E acetate and other dangerous substances from electronic cigarettes, the number of symptoms associated with vaping has decreased.
Smoking
Contrary to vaping, which is relatively recent, there is a lot of research that supports the claim that smoking is harmful to your health. According to the CDC, smoking can cause:
- Harm to some organs in the body
- More than 450,000 deaths in the US yearly
- 90% of the deaths from lung cancer
- About 80% of deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD)
- An increased chance of death
- An increased chance of developing heart disease or stroke.
Long-term side effects of smoking
The long-term effects of smoking can be severe. According to the CDC, smoking:
- Reduces sperm count
- Increases the likelihood of pregnancy loss or other congenital disabilities
- Increases the likelihood of cataracts
- Function impairments
- Increases general inflammation
- Causes cancer in almost any body part
- Triggers asthma attacks
- Causes veins and arteries to get clogged
- Increases the likelihood of a stroke
Key Takeaway
Although vaping contains fewer contaminants than regular cigarettes, it is still not the best way to quit smoking. People who want to stop smoking should not turn to other addictive habits. Professional help is necessary to stop a bad habit. Many facilities offer specialized programs to help you safely overcome your smoking or vaping addiction.
