Smoking and vaping – or even considering “smoking vs. vaping” – can be pretty emotional topics for some people, so I’m going to keep this article simple.
When e-cigarettes and vaping came out, many people saw this as a solution to their nicotine addiction. It seemed like vaping was going to be the healthy version of smoking. But more and more research shows that vaping and e-cigarettes are harmful to your lungs and can lead to chronic lung conditions.
At Primary Care Simplified, we embrace the ideology of prevention of disease where possible, so let’s take a closer look at the topic of vaping and smoking.
Vaping vs. Smoking
Smoking delivers nicotine by burning tobacco, which causes smoking-related illnesses.
Vaping delivers nicotine by heating a liquid that you inhale into your lungs.
They each have their pros and cons.
Smoking Pros
- Easy access to cigarettes
Smoking Cons
- Increases risks of heart, lung, and cancer conditions
- Secondhand smoke is uncontrollable
- Cigarette smell seeps into everything
- Not many real choices of cigarette
Vaping Pros
- No noxious odors
- More control over nicotine intake
- More control over vapor output
- E-Cigs come in many flavors
Vaping Cons
- Increases risks of heart and lung conditions
- Too many choices – encourages experimenting
- Steep learning curve
- E-cigs look like a toy to your kids
My Comments On This?
At first glance, it seems that in the vaping vs. smoking debate vaping is a far better choice than smoking traditional tobacco products. That may be true, but vaping is still dangerous to your health.
Here are four harmful effects of vaping:
- Ultrafine particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs.
- E-cigarettes contain heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and flavoring agents that are linked to severe lung disease.
- Vaping has an impact on brain development.
- Vaping has been linked to lung injury.
E-cigarette dangers are real. Here’s what else you need to know:
- E-cigarettes provide a smoke-free way to inhale nicotine.
- But nicotine is more addictive than heroin, cocaine, or alcohol.
If you think smoking e-cigarettes is not as dangerous as smoking regular ones, you’re wrong. They may not contain all of the chemicals that tobacco contains, but they can still contain dangerous chemicals and are just as addictive as traditional cigarettes.
So, if you’re still asking, “Are e-cigarettes harmful to your lungs?” the answer is yes. Studies have
- linked vaping nicotine to a higher risk for respiratory disease and
- suggested that nicotine-containing e-cigarette vapor encourages the growth of harmful bacteria in your lungs.
(See here and here if you like reading up on research.)
So, as you can see, in the debate on vaping vs. smoking, there are actually NO winners.
Did you know that 12 hours after your last cigarette, the carbon monoxide levels in your blood return to normal, but it can take two weeks to 3 months for your lungs to begin to improve? And that it can take 1 to 9 months for the cilia in your lungs to become healthy again?
But don’t use this “delayed return to health” as an excuse not to quit! Use it as an invitation to better health and overall wellbeing.
Do you love your lungs? Then it’s time to quit. Not just smoking cigarettes, but vaping and e-cigs too.
Why Not Quit Using Nicotine Altogether?
Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the United States. You’ve seen the warnings on the tobacco packages. Take them at their word and apply them to vaping as well. If you’re ready to feel better and invest in a positive future for you and your family, then take a deep fresh breath without the nicotine.
Need support? We can help! Contact us today to see how.