Is Vape More Worse Than Smoking Cigarettes
In recent years, vaping has surged in popularity, especially among young adults and teens. Marketed as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, many people have switched to e-cigarettes, believing they’re making a healthier choice. But is vaping really better, or could it be just as harmful, if not worse, than smoking cigarettes? Let’s explore the facts.
The risk comparison of e-cigarettes and vaping devices has been a topic of debate among health experts for years.
Unlike combustion cigarettes, tobacco does not have vaping devices or release tar, which gives the impression that vaping is safer than smoking. But with vaping-related lung injuries soaring in 2019, some people wondered if vaping was actually more dangerous than smoking.
According to a reliable source at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some experts still consider vaping to be as harmful as smoking, but that doesn’t mean vaping is harmless Also note that e -Cigarettes are relatively new, so the long-term effects of vaping are still unclear.
Comparing the risks:
Vaping and smoking share many of the same health risks. But there are some differences in the severity of these risks.
Here’s a look at how some of the biggest health risks between the two compare:
Respiratory conditions:
Smoking and vaping both irritate your lungs and airways, which can lead to a number of lung-related illnesses, such as:
1.Asthma
2.Chronic bronchitis
3.Emphysema
Many people know that smoking increases your risk of developing chronic lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchitis.
Experts are less certain about the long-term effects of vaping.according to a 2020 study, current e-cigarette users are approximately 40% more likely than non-users or smokers to acquire a respiratory disease.
A 2019 studyThis relationship was echoed by Trusted Source.which also mentioned that individuals who use both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes are more likely to develop respiratory illnesses than those who use only one.
Some vape products may contain diacetyl, a chemical used by manufacturers to flavor butter, along with a vape “liquid”. Diacetyl has been attached to popcorn bubbles, a condition that causes permanent scarring of your airways.
Heart disease:
Smoking links to high blood pressure, heart rateTrusted Source, and a general worsening of cardiovascular function.These factors,along with the thousands of apiraTrusted Source chemicals in cigarettes, can increase your risk of heart disease. A World Health Organization brief for 2020 states that 20% of credible causes of cardiovascular death are linked to smoking.
The effects of vaping on heart health are less clear, but researchTrusted Source links it to similar increases in blood pressure and heart rate.
Exercise stress test outcomes among vapers, smokers, and non-smokers were compared in a 2022 study (Trusted Source). Individuals in the vaping group did marginally better than those in the smoking group, but consistently worse than those in the control group.
Cancer:
According to the CDC, people who smoke are about 30times more likely to develop and die from lung cancer than non-smokersTrusted Source. Studies have also linked smoking to an increased risk of colorectalTrusted Source, throat, breastTrusted Source, and other cancers.
Experts haven’t been around long enough to fully understand the relationship between e-cigarette use and cancer risk. However, many products contain some of the carcinogenic properties of cigarettes, e.g.
1.Formaldehyde
2.Acetaldehyde
3.Nitrosamines
E-cigarettes contain very few harmful chemicals. If you currently smoke, vaping can reduce your exposure to these chemicals and potentially reduce your risk of cancer. But if you don’t currently vape or smoke, using e-cigarettes can increase your cancer risk.
How About Alternating The Two?
Some people use vaping to help them cut back on the number of cigarettes they smoke since e-cigarettes are marginally less dangerous than traditional cigarettes.
Research on this so-called “dual use” is limited. However, a study by aTrusted Source in 2022 shows that smoking and vaping is as harmful or possibly more harmful than smoking alone.
What about vaping to quit smoking?
Cigarette manufacturers originally intended to use e-cigarettes to help people quit smoking. Some experts consider vaping less harmful than smoking in general, but whether vaping can actually help people quit smoking is unclear.
According to a different 2022 analysis, e-cigarettes might be even more effective than nicotine replacement treatment at helping people stop smoking.the authors noted that they need more high quality studies to confirm the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool.
The bottom line:
Although there are risks involved, vaping is typically less dangerous than smoking. But much is unknown about vaping and e-cigarettes, particularly the full extent of their long-term health hazards.
If you currently smoke and are trying to reduce your risk of negative health effects, quitting is the most effective option. But if you aren’t ready to stop using nicotine completely, switching to vaping can be a slightly safer alternative.