E-cigarettes can help smokers quit smoking, but they are not risk-free. They contain nicotine and harmful chemicals that can damage the body’s DNA.
Looking at vaping products individually rather than comparing them solely to traditional cigarettes is essential. It will highlight how much harm they can cause.
E-Cigarettes Contain Nicotine
Nicotine makes e-cigarettes addictive but does not cause most of the harm associated with smoking—the thousands of other chemicals in cigarette smoke cause most health problems, including cancer. Tar and carbon monoxide, two of the most dangerous components in cigarette smoke, are absent from e-cigarette vapor. However, it does contain some of the same chemicals found in tobacco smoke, such as carcinogens and heavy metals.
It is also not known how the vapor from e-cigarettes affects a person’s long-term health. That is because e-cigarettes are relatively new, and it takes years to determine whether something increases a person’s disease risk.
While there are many unknowns about e-cigarettes, there is evidence that they can help people quit smoking and lower their smoking rates.
These include behavioral counseling, group or individual therapy, and approved medications. It adds that continuing to smoke alongside your vaping will increase your risk of lung damage and illness. It can also make existing conditions, such as asthma, worse. The liquid that creates e-cigarette vapor can be dangerous to adults and children if swallowed or inhaled or if they get it on their skin or eyes. There is also evidence of mislabelling in e-cigarette refills, with nicotine present in some products advertised as nicotine-free.
E-Cigarettes Contain Carcinogens
Does vaping cause cancer? Because they do not release the tar and other toxins that smoking cigarettes does, many people view e-cigarettes as a safer choice. However, mounting data indicates that e-cigarettes contain dangerous substances and can harm the human body.
E-cigarettes specifically include carcinogens, including formaldehyde and diacetyl.
Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen linked to lung disease, and diacetyl is a highly toxic chemical that can cause asthma and other respiratory conditions. Both diacetyl and formaldehyde are produced by vaporizers when the e-liquid is heated up. These chemicals can be absorbed through the mouth, nose, and eyes. In addition, e-cigarettes can also produce harmful chemicals when the liquid overheats or there is not enough liquid to heat up (known as a dry puff).
The truth is that we have yet to determine for sure if e-cigarettes are safe. Most e-cigarettes require regulation, and it can take time to ascertain the components they contain. It is also essential to remember that e-cigarettes have only been on the market for a few years, so it will take time for us to know their long-term effects.
To lower your chance of health issues, you should stop smoking. Talk to your doctor or a quit specialist if you want to quit. They can help you with resources and strategies that may work for you.
E-Cigarettes Contain Flavorings
Electronic cigarettes, or ENDS or electronic non-nicotine delivery systems, use a battery-powered device to heat liquid into inhaled aerosols. Many of these fumes contain flavoring substances that, if inhaled repeatedly, could harm people. A recent study claims that over time, the vapor from e-cigarettes might harm cells’ DNA, potentially causing cancer and other health issues.
Researchers need to learn precisely what is in the thousands of e-liquids, or e-juices, sold for e-cigarettes. They are aware that they frequently contain substances like propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, which are safe to consume when consumed orally. However, scientists are unsure of their safety when vaporized and inhaled. They can combine with other ingredients in the vapor to form dangerous compounds such as formaldehyde, which has been linked to lung disease.
Research also shows that e-cigarettes can act as “entry nicotine products” for youth and increase the odds of smoking combustible cigarettes. This is particularly true for young people, who are four times more likely to smoke regular tobacco cigarettes than their peers who do not use e-cigarettes. Those already smokers are more likely to continue using e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco, leading to continued harm and addiction to tobacco.
E-Cigarettes Contain Other Chemicals
The battery-operated devices that look like conventional cigarettes, pens, or sleek tech gadgets use a heating element to turn liquid into an aerosol that can be inhaled. The liquid used in e-cigarettes contains many chemicals that can be dangerous for adults and children who swallow, breathe, or get it on their skin.
These include diacetyl (a chemical linked to severe lung disease), volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals, including nickel, tin, and lead. They also produce a range of carbonyls when propylene glycol and glycerol, common solvents in e-liquid, are heated to create vapor. These can irritate the lungs and damage cells in the airways, increasing the risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. They also may pose an additional risk of heart attack or stroke, as they can block blood flow to the lungs and heart.
More research is required to comprehend the long-term effects of e-cigarettes on health. However, even if they are safer than smoking, they should not be promoted as an alternative. Other methods that help people quit smoking and have fewer harmful side effects, such as nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges, and medicines such as Chantix (varenicline) and Wellbutrin (bupropion), are more effective. Moreover, the recent dramatic increase in vaping among young people is a disturbing trend that should not be encouraged.
