Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking?

Concerned about the health risks of smoking? You might be wondering, ‘is vaping safer than smoking?’ This concise analysis addresses the heart of that question, comparing the health implications of vaping with traditional smoking. While no nicotine delivery system is entirely risk-free, we will review the available evidence to help you understand the relative safety of these choices.

Vaping has become a popular alternative to smoking in recent years, with many people turning to e-cigarettes as a tool for quitting smoking. But is vaping safer than smoking?

There are still concerns about the safety of vaping, leading many to question whether or not it is a viable option for those looking to quit smoking. 

Vaping Vs Smoking: Understanding the Differences

When it comes to quitting smoking, many cigarette smokers find solace in using e cigarettes, also known as electronic nicotine delivery systems or electronic cigarettes. Designed to mimic the experience of cigarette smoking, these battery-powered devices deliver nicotine without the toxic effect of tobacco smoke. Traditional cigarettes, on the other hand, are notorious for their harmful ingredients. They contain thousands of chemicals, many of which are poisonous and up to 70 that cause cancer.

A key difference between vaping and smoking cigarettes lies in their respective processes. The harmful smoke from traditional cigarettes is produced through combustion, which releases nicotine from the tobacco leaf. On the contrary, vaping involves heating e-liquids to produce an inhalable aerosol.

Ingredients Comparison

Despite the stark differences in their production, both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes contain potentially harmful substances. E-cigarettes, while containing far fewer harmful chemicals compared to traditional cigarettes, still can pose health risks as it contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance.

Essentially, while e-cigarettes may be less harmful due to fewer dangerous chemicals compared to cigarette smoke, they are certainly not devoid of harmful substances. E-liquids are made up of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, nicotine and flavourings. Most of these are not directly harmful substances, although it must be stressed that the long term implications of vaping cannot be known.

The Health Risks of Vaping

While vaping is an effective quitting smoking tool, many still wonder, “is vaping safe?” One of the most common concerns is that vaping is just as harmful as smoking, if not more so. However, this is not supported by scientific evidence. 

According to a report from Public Health England, vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking. This is because e-cigarettes do not produce the same toxic chemicals that are found in cigarette smoke, such as tar and carbon monoxide.

The Royal College of Physicians in the UK have stated that “promotion of e-cigarettes as a harm reduction intervention is therefore justified” and that “vaping is unlikely to exceed 5% of the harm from smoking tobacco” in a 2016 report.

Another concern is that vaping can lead to nicotine addiction. While it is true that e-cigarettes contain nicotine, the amount of nicotine found in e-cigarettes is generally lower than that found in cigarettes. Additionally, many e-cigarettes allow users to adjust the amount of nicotine they consume, allowing them to gradually reduce their nicotine intake over time. 

In fact, there is evidence that “dual users” (those who both smoke and vape) have high “accidental quit” rates—meaning that those who take up vaping alongside smoking cigarettes may quit smoking without even intending to.

There are also concerns about the long-term health risks of vaping on lung health. However, studies have not found any evidence of harm to the lungs from vaping yet. Despite this, e-cigarettes must be researched further in order gain more knowledge of their health consequences after long term use, as still much is unknown.

In addition, there are concerns about lung injuries from EVALI, which arose in 2019, but these cases were caused by harmful chemicals (namely, vitamin E acetate) added to illicit THC vapes.

Addiction

A significant concern about vaping is its addictive potential. E-cigarettes can contain similar or higher concentrations of nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes, which may enhance the addictive nature of vaping. This becomes particularly worrying in the context of youth use. The developing brain of youth is more susceptible to the addictive effects of nicotine, raising concerns about the implications of e-cigarette use in this demographic.

While the long-term impact of vaping is not fully understood, the high addiction potential of nicotine in e-cigarettes is a significant concern. Particular worries include young non smokers becoming addicted, and then starting to smoke cigarettes as a result of this.

The Health Risks of Smoking

While discussing the risks of vaping, we must not forget the severe health hazards posed by cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke. Smoking damages almost every organ in the body, leading to disease and disability, with over 16 million Americans currently living with diseases caused by smoking.

Over 77,000 deaths were attributed to smoking in the UK in 2019, which accounted for 16% of all deaths. Smoking is thought to cost the NHS approximately £2.6 billion per year.

The links between smoking and cardiovascular diseases, as well as various types of cancer, are strong. Smoking is recognized as one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide, underlining the critical need for smoking cessation.

Vaping as a Smoking Cessation Tool

While the risks associated with vaping are real, vaping can also serve as a tool for smoking cessation. Studies show that vaping can double the chances of quitting smoking when compared to other nicotine replacement products. Almost two-thirds of smokers who use a vape along with the support from a local Stop Smoking Service successfully quit smoking. This highlights the effectiveness of this approach in helping people quit tobacco use..

However, the journey from smoking to vaping varies from individual to individual. While some can quickly switch from smoking to vaping, others may take longer to make the transition. Vaping can assist in breaking the routine of smoking cigarettes and gradually reduce health risks associated with smoking.

Vaping is an Effective Method for Quitting Smoking

When it comes to quitting smoking, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Before even reaching the question, “is vaping safe,” many wonder whether vaping will even help them—and a large percentage of smokers consider vaping to be just as bad as smoking, which is not the case. 

Different methods work for different people, and vaping is no exception. However, studies have shown that vaping can be an effective quitting smoking tool. 

Researchers have found that e-cigarettes are almost twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in helping smokers quit. Another study published by Cochrane found that vaping was more effective than NRT in helping smokers quit, and those who used e-cigarettes were more likely to quit smoking completely than those who used NRT.

What do Experts Say About Vaping?

Expert opinions are also positive about the effectiveness of vaping as a quitting smoking tool. In a Reddit AMA, Dr Michael Siegel, Professor of Community Health Sciences at Boston University School of Public Health, says that “There is no question that e-cigarette vaping is far safer than smoking.” 

“There is no question that e-cigarette vaping is far safer than smoking.”

Dr Michael Siegel

Dr. Siegel goes on to say, after initially being reluctant about vaping and doing his own research, that “I spoke with hundreds of vapers. It became clear that [vaping] was something totally different. […]. These products were indeed safer and many smokers were using them successfully to quit smoking.”

Dr Colin Mendelsohn, a prominent doctor, vape researcher, and tobacco harm reduction advocate from Australia, wrote a book titled Stop Smoking Start Vaping in which he outlines the efficacy of vapes as a smoking cessation tool and debunks common myths about vaping. 

Mendelsohn, who is now retired from medicine, continues to advocate for regulated nicotine vape sales in Australia as the country wages its war on vaping products. Mendelsohn says, “There is overwhelming scientific agreement that vaping is far less harmful than smoking. Vaping does not produce smoke. It is the 7,000 chemicals in smoke (including 69 cancer-causing agents) released from burning tobacco which cause almost all the death and disease from smoking.”

Vaping’s Impact on Youth and Young Adults

Continuing to navigate the complex landscape of vaping, we must consider its impact on youth and young adults critically. The increasing popularity of vaping among youth poses a serious public health threat. Factors such as the belief that vaping is less harmful than smoking, its lower per-use cost, and the absence of smoke draw young people to e-cigarettes.

Long-term Consequences

The long-term consequences of youth vaping are not fully understood but may include:

• Increased risk of smoking initiation
• Vaping-related health issues
• Correlation with an increase in asthma exacerbations, coughing, and wheezing, signalling potential long-term respiratory health consequences.

Furthermore, nicotine addiction from vaping can act as a gateway to conventional cigarette usage, risking a resurgence in smoking-related illnesses. For the first time this year, most children wrongly believe that vaping is about the same or more harmful than smoking.

Regulatory Measures and Public Health Policies

The regulatory framework for e-cigarettes aims to prevent new nicotine addictions, especially among youth, whilst assisting smokers in cessation. From city-level bans on the retail and online sale of e-cigarettes to the FDA’s deeming rule setting manufacturing standards and marketing limitations for all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, various measures are in place to regulate e-cigarette use.

In the UK, for example, it is illegal to sell nicotine vaping products to individuals under 18. Similar implementation of Tobacco 21 laws can be seen in several US states. E-cigarette advertisement also faces restrictions such as limitations on billboard and point-of-sale advertising, aimed at reducing their appeal, particularly to the youth.

Making Informed Choices: Weighing the Risks and Benefits

It’s imperative to weigh the risks and benefits of vaping when making informed decisions. While nicotine vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, it can serve as a tool for smoking cessation. However, for those who are not smokers, especially young people under the age of 18, it’s advised not to initiate vaping.

The CDC suggests the following:

• Evaluate the risks and benefits of e-cigarettes
• Consider FDA-approved smoking cessation options
• Use vaping as required to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms

Conclusion: Is vaping safer than smoking? Well, it’s safer!

So, is vaping safe? Well, it would be better to use the word “safer.” While vaping presents a less harmful alternative to smoking for smokers, it is not risk-free and can lead to addiction, especially amongst the youth.

Vaping has been proven to be an effective quitting smoking tool. While there are some concerns about the safety of vaping, scientific evidence does not support the idea that vaping is as harmful as smoking. 

It’s important to note that vaping is not risk-free and it’s not recommended for non-smokers or for those who have never smoked. But, for smokers looking to quit, vaping is a much safer alternative to traditional smoking. As always, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before making any decisions about smoking cessation.

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