Vaping: Is it Safer than Smoking?

The link between smoking and lung cancer is already common knowledge. Smoking is known as one of the leading causes of death around the world. Based on the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer affecting both men and women next to prostate and breast cancer. Health organizations are working hard, campaigning for people to stop smoking. However, we all know that quitting is not easy, and dealing with withdrawal symptoms is always challenging.

Smokers who find it hard to quit tend to look for alternative ways to fill in the gap in their habits. In recent years, smoking electronic cigarettes (“e-cigarettes”) is becoming popular as an alternative to smoking. What makes it interesting is that e-cigarettes, or vaping, have been marketed as the “safe” way to smoke. Is there a truth to that? Can we really find conclusive health benefits to vaping vs smoking? Are there really such “benefits?” Let us take a look by weighing important facts about vaping vs smoking cigarettes.

What is the difference between vaping vs smoking?

The substances consumed when vaping are different from those consumed when smoking.

In traditional smoking, you inhale the smoke from a cigarette through your mouth and exhale through the nose. Smoking leaves a high number of toxic by-products in the body.

In vaping, you inhale the vapor produced by heating up the liquid and chemicals found in the cartridge through a battery-operated device. There is no combustion involved; therefore, no smoke is produced.

There is also a slight difference when it comes to vaping vs smoking chemicals. Studies show that smoking the regular cigarette exposes you to around 7,000 chemicals, while vaping exposes you to a relatively smaller number because there is no combustion involved. These chemicals are mostly toxic to the human body.

Is vaping better than smoking?

Vaping was actually created as part of the risk reduction strategy for long-term smokers. While vaping is marketed as the “safer” alternative to smoking cigarettes, smokers need to be aware that in both vaping and smoking, it is the nicotine that plays the biggest role in giving pleasure to the users.

Nicotine makes a smoker addicted– whether it is through vaping or smoking cigarettes. When it comes to health risks, most doctors find little to no difference at all. Let’s do a rundown of its effects on the body.

Smoking cigarettes can trigger an asthma attack, weakens the immune system, causes congenital disabilities, reduces sperm count and increases the risks of infertility, causes blockages in veins and arteries, thus increasing the risk of stroke. In other words, smoking can damage every organ in the body.

Vaping irritates the lungs, slows brain development in teens affecting memory, learning attention, and mood, weakens the immune system, and releases free radicals promoting the development of cancer.

According to the American Lung Association, recent studies revealed that vaping contributes to an increasing number of Bronchiolitis Obliterans, otherwise known as the “popcorn lung.” It is a serious lung disease damaging the smallest airways making you cough, wheeze, and feel shortness of breath.

Is smoking cigarettes or vaping worse for you?

Certainly, neither vaping nor smoking gives health benefits to anyone. While smoking appears more harmful when compared to vaping, both pose potential health risks affecting not only your health but your family’s as well. Nonsmokers, especially children, who are exposed to smoke or vapor increase their risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Quitting Smoking

Though vape contains fewer contaminants when compared to smoking regular cigarettes, vaping is still not the best solution if you want to quit the bad habit of smoking. Those who are trying to quit badly should not resort to another addictive habit. Trying to be free from the toxic life of cigarette smoking does not mean digging another hole for potential addiction. It just does not make sense to switch to a less harmful option. It is still harmful in the end.

In order to quit a bad habit effectively, seek professional help and consider evidence-based programs and treatments. With Haven House Recovery Center, you can safely recover from your addiction. We are a reputable recovery center around Murfreesboro catering recovery needs of men. As we understand that the needs of addiction vary, we provide specialized programs for each of our clients. If you or anyone you know is in need of a helping hand, please do not hesitate to call us. We are more than willing to help you heal and recover.