Vapes VS. Cigarettes, Which One Is Safer?

In recent years, e-cigarettes have surged in popularity, often being marketed as a safer alternative to traditional smoking. But are they really safer? While e-cigarettes don’t involve burning tobacco, which produces harmful toxins like tar, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re risk-free. So, let’s explore whether vaping truly offers a safer option than smoking traditional cigarettes.

Cigarettes: A Proven Health Hazard

There’s no question that smoking traditional cigarettes is hazardous. Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are toxic, and around 70 are known to cause cancer. This is why smoking is directly linked to some of the most serious health issues:

• 90% of lung cancer deaths are attributed to smoking.

• It accounts for 80% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• Smoking significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancers in multiple organs.

  
  

On top of that, smoking harms every organ in the body, from reducing sperm count to increasing the risk of pregnancy complications, weakening the immune system, and causing inflammation. In short, the long-term effects of smoking are devastating and well-documented.

Vapes: A Safer Alternative?

E-cigarettes, or vapes, work by heating a liquid (often containing nicotine) to create an inhalable aerosol. Unlike traditional cigarettes, they don’t rely on combustion, which means they don’t produce the tar or carbon monoxide that make smoking so harmful. But does that make them safe?

E-cigarettes do contain fewer toxic chemicals than traditional cigarettes, which is why many people view them as the lesser of two evils. However, “fewer” does not mean “none”, and vaping carries its own set of risks.

What Are the Risks of Vaping?

Although vaping eliminates some of the toxins found in cigarettes, it still poses potential dangers:

• Nicotine: E-cigarettes usually contain nicotine, the same highly addictive substance found in traditional cigarettes. Nicotine is especially harmful to fetuses, children, and teenagers, as it can impair brain development.

• Dangerous chemicals: E-cigarette liquid often contains harmful substances such as diacetyl, which can cause lung disease, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and heavy metals like lead. These chemicals can be inhaled deep into the lungs, causing damage over time.

• EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury): This newly recognized condition can cause severe lung injury, and in some cases, even death. As of early 2020, the CDC reported around 2,800 cases of EVALI, with 68 deaths, many linked to vaping THC products.

A 2019 study found that people who use e-cigarettes have a higher risk of developing respiratory diseases compared to those who have never smoked. This means that while vaping may reduce your exposure to some of the toxins found in cigarettes, it’s not completely without harm.

The Safest Option? Quit Both

Ultimately, neither smoking nor vaping is good for your health. If you’re looking to improve your well-being, the best option is to quit both entirely. There are many tools and resources available, from nicotine replacement therapies to behavioural support, to help you quit for good.

Consult a doctor through Doctor Anywhere app anywhere, anytime, plus free medicine delivery anywhere in Thailand.

Sources: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-truths-you-need-to-know-about-vaping#:~:text=1%3A%20Vaping%20is%20less%20harmful,many%20of%20which%20are%20toxic.

https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/e-cigarettes-vaping