How vaping and cigarettes are dangerously similar

There was a time when smoking was considered cool. Suave men and beautiful women would pose in advertisements with burning cigarettes between their fingers or in-between their lips, promising that you too could be like them if you wanted. Soon, it became clear that smoking cigarettes was dangerous after it was quickly linked to chronic lung disease, heart disease, lung cancer, and many other medical conditions. Time passed, and while smoking cigarettes became known as being dangerous, a new trend took its place: electronic cigarettes.

Although today lung cancer is mostly attributed to smoking tobacco cigarettes, it is best to refrain from any form of smoking, including electronic cigarettes, to protect your lungs and lower your risk of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States. Annually, about 218,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with lung cancer and about 142,000 people die from this disease. Most diagnosed do not even have symptoms until the cancer is advanced.

The trend of e-cigarettes or “vaping” began as an alternative to traditional nicotine cigarettes. Many adults began trading in their “bad habit” for something they considered to be a safer option, which we now know it comes with its own set of risks and potential harm. As with most adult trends, our youth picked up vaping as an alternative to cigarette smoking due to it being more accessible and trendier. One in four high school seniors say they vaped nicotine in the past month. Roughly 20% of high school seniors report vaping marijuana within the past year. These rates have more than doubled in the past two years.

We all know that smoking tobacco cigarettes is bad for our health, but you may not realize how harmful vaping is as an alternative. When you vape, you inhale substances that sound harmless, but these “flavorants,” made of propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin, were meant to be orally consumed, NOT inhaled directly into the lungs. Even these seemingly innocent materials, when heated up (as in a vaping device), can turn into more dangerous substances and lead to lung inflammation and irreversible damage.

The NIH reports that, “One harmful chemical may be a thickening agent called Vitamin E acetate, which is sometimes used as an additive in THC-containing vape products. The CDC identified it as a ‘chemical of concern’ among people with vaping-associated lung injuries. They recommend avoiding any vaping product containing Vitamin E acetate or THC, particularly those from informal sources like friends, family, or in-person or online dealers.”

Did you know? No e-cigarette has been approved as a cessation device or authorized to make a modified risk claim, and more research is needed to understand the potential risks and benefits these products may offer adults who use tobacco products.

While vaping has a shorter list of side effects, it may still damage the lungs, weaken the immune system, and release free radicals into your body.

Teens who never smoked traditional cigarettes are now trying and becoming addicted to e-cigarettes. This habit increases their risk of moving on to cigarettes or other types of smokeless tobacco. Younger brains are more susceptible to the development of an addiction to nicotine, which is a more addictive drug even when compared to alcohol, heroin, and cocaine. Forming an addiction to any substance, including nicotine, can create problems with impulsivity and mood disorders for these young developing brains. Nicotine specifically can have harmful effects on the portion of the brain responsible for planning, judgment, decision-making, and ability to concentrate.

Remember all of this before picking up an e-cigarette as an adult, even as a smoking cessation aide. Know the risk you’re taking!

Talk to your kids about what e-cigarettes are and why they are harmful!

Seek help from your provider if you wish to quit smoking today!

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