Some people take up vaping – or inhaling vapor from electronic cigarettes – to avoid the health hazards of smoking cigarettes made with tobacco. But when it comes to your heart health, a pair of recent studies show e-cigarettes are just as dangerous – and possibly are even more dangerous – than traditional cigarettes.
Full Answer
Are e-cigs really healthier alternative to cigarettes?
E-cigarettes do not have the many health risks that come with tobacco smoking . These vapes claim to offer a healthier alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes or other kinds of nicotine intake. Some studies revealed that vaping could help smokers quit the habit or cut down smoking. E-cigs have no ash, smoke, or burning.
Do e cigarettes really make quitting smoking easier?
The latest study concludes it’s easier for people to quit smoking if they first switch to e-cigarettes, but there remains a lot of debate about this topic. E-cigarette use has grown significantly in recent years — as has the rate of people who quit smoking. Two recent studies concluded that those trends are related.
Are electronic cigarettes the same as regular smoking?
The key difference between traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes is that e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco. But, it isn’t just the tobacco in cigarettes that causes cancer. Traditional cigarettes contain a laundry list of chemicals that are proven harmful, and e-cigarettes have some of these same chemicals.
Are e-cigarettes as bad as cigarettes?
The evidence that e-cigarettes are just as bad as conventional cigarettes for effects on blood and blood vessels keeps piling up. Aline Sabrina Rau and colleagues at the University of Colorado just published " Electronic Cigarettes Are as Toxic to Skin Flap Survival as Tobacco Cigarettes " in the Annals of Plastic Survey.
What Is in E-Cigarette Aerosol?
The e-cigarette aerosol that users breathe from the device and exhale can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including: 1. Nicotin...
What Are The Health Effects of Using E-Cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are still fairly new, and scientists are still learning about their long-term health effects. Here is what we know now.
What Are The Risks of E-Cigarettes For Youth, Young Adults, and Pregnant Women?
Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is addictive and toxic to developing fetuses. Nicotine exposure can also harm adolescent brain developmen...
Can E-Cigarettes Help Adults Quit Smoking Cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are not currently approved by the FDA as a quit smoking aid. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a group of health experts that m...
Why do young people use e-cigarettes?
Many young people say they’ve tried e-cigarettes in part because of the appealing flavors. More than 80% of teen users say their first e-cigarette product was flavored.
How old do you have to be to sell e-cigarettes?
Enforce the new federal law that raised the minimum age for sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years.
Is vaping bad for health?
E-cigarettes’ biggest threat to public health may be this: The increasing popularity of vaping may “re-normalize” smoking, which has declined for years. Reversing the hard-won gains in the global effort to curb smoking would be catastrophic. Smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death and is responsible for 480,000 American lives lost each year.
Is vaping harmful to you?
The American Heart Association recommends proven methods to successfully quit smoking. Many people think vaping is less harmful than smoking.
Can vaping harm a pregnant woman?
Most e-cigarettes deliver nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the developing brains of teens, kids and fetuses in women who vape while pregnant. Some types expose users to even more nicotine than traditional cigarettes.
Can you use e-cigarettes if you don't smoke?
People who do not currently smoke or use tobacco products should not use e-cigarettes.
Is e-cigarette use a public health concern?
The Surgeon General called e-cigarette use among young people a “public health concern.”. The American Heart Association shares that view. That’s why we advocate for stronger regulations that: Include e-cigarettes in smoke-free laws. Regulate and tax e-cigarettes in the same way as all other tobacco products.
What are E-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that were initially shaped like cigarettes, but now include vape mods, Juuls, and vape pens. Some look like flash drives or highlighter pens, making it easy for teens to hide them in plain sight. The brand-name products contain nicotine, an addictive drug that is naturally found in tobacco and that stimulates, causes stress during withdrawal, and then feels relaxing as continued exposure follows withdrawal. It is the nicotine in cigarettes that makes smoking so addictive, and the same is true for most vaping and juuling. These electronic products allow nicotine to be inhaled, and they work by heating a liquid cartridge containing nicotine, flavors, and other chemicals into a vapor. Because e-cigarettes heat a liquid instead of tobacco, what is released is considered smokeless.3
What is the FDA's guide to e-cigarettes?
The Director of Communications at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products has written this guide to help parents identify these hidden e-cigarettes. The FDA has also helped create this pamphlet for parents and teens to discuss the risks of vaping, and it provides resources for saying “no” and for quitting.
What percentage of teens use vaping?
According to survey data collected between 2014 and 2017, 9% of middle and high schoolers reported that they were current vaping users. Vaping was most common among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (18%), as well as American Indian and Alaskan Native teens (13%). About 10% of White and Hispanic teens vaped, and vaping was least common among Black (5%) and Asian teens (4%).18 The percentage of teens who reported vaping doubled between 2017 and 2019.19 In 2019, about 28% of highschoolers and 11% of middle schoolers reported e-cigarette use. Most teens who vaped reported that they used flavored products.20 Two 2020 surveys found that the percentage of students vaping decreased early in the year. A CDC study analyzing data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, a study of over 14,000 students, found that about 20% of 9th-12th grade students and 5% of 6th-8th grade students reported that they used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days.21 A different survey conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, studied over 8,000 students in only the 10th and 12th grades, and found that 22% reported vaping in the last 30 days.22 Although these numbers are still high, and comparable to the statistics in 2018,17 they are notably lower than 2019. E-cigarette use may have dropped due to growing awareness of the dangers of these products, including media coverage of young men hospitalized with serious lung damage.22,23 The drop may also be due to raising the legal age for the purchase of tobacco products and the ban on flavored products.22,24
How do electronic cigarettes work?
These electronic products allow nicotine to be inhaled, and they work by heating a liquid cartridge containing nicotine, flavors, and other chemicals into a vapor. Because e-cigarettes heat a liquid instead of tobacco, what is released is considered smokeless.3.
Why did the e-cigarette market drop?
E-cigarette use may have dropped due to growing awareness of the dangers of these products, including media coverage of young men hospitalized with serious lung damage. 22,23 The drop may also be due to raising the legal age for the purchase of tobacco products and the ban on flavored products.22,24.
Is vaping harmful to DNA?
Although there are clearly serious dangers from vaping, more research is needed to confirm the impact of vaping on DNA damage, especially in children. Meanwhile, claims that e-cigarettes are an effective strategy to quit smoking are not supported by the evidence thus far.
Which tobacco companies have their own e-cigarettes?
The big three tobacco companies—Lorillard, Reynolds American, and Altria Group —all have their own e-cigarette brands, so it’s not surprising that e-cigarettes are being marketed and advertised much the way regular cigarettes used to be. Here are the 7 Ways E-Cigarette Companies Are Copying Big Tobacco’s Playbook.
How do you know if you have lung disease from vaping?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating extensively to pinpoint the exact cause of these lung disease outbreaks and if they are in anyway related to vaping and/or using e-cigarettes 3.
Is vaping better than cigarettes?
Until recently, many people believed that e-cigarettes and vaping were considered a “better” option compared to cigarettes because they do not release tar as well as other toxic gases found in cigarette smoke. 5
Is vaping bad for your lung?
Although an exact explanation has not been recognized as to what is causing these recent lung disease outbreaks, health investigators have linked vaping to the underlying cause of these lung ailment cases. A clinical psychologist from San Francisco, Dr. Danielle Ramo, suggests that certain additives in the vapor being released from these vaping products contain oils that can be highly dangerous and toxic if heated and inhaled. 1 One of the oils being identified in many of these recent outbreak cases is vitamin E, which is commonly used as a supplement and topical moisturizer/cream. Although Vitamin E is safe when applied topically and consumed as a supplement, it can cause damaging effects when inhaled as smoke. 3 Although not all vaping products and e-cigarettes contain these additives, it is sill highly recommended to avoid these products until further research and studies have been completed. 1
What are the benefits of e-cigarettes?
What‘s the bottom line? 1 E-cigarettes have the potential to benefit adult smokers who are not pregnant if used as a complete substitute for regular cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products. 2 E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, and pregnant women, as well as adults who do not currently use tobacco products. 3 While e-cigarettes have the potential to benefit some people and harm others, scientists still have a lot to learn about whether e-cigarettes are effective for quitting smoking. 4 If you’ve never smoked or used other tobacco products or e-cigarettes, don’t start. 5 Additional research can help understand long-term health effects.
What do e-cigarettes look like?
Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items. Learn more about e-cigarettes and their effect on your health. The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults.
What is the purpose of the e-cigarette pamphlet?
This product is intended for educational purposes only for public health officials and healthcare providers. The devices and brands presented in this pamphlet are intended to highlight the different e-cigarette, or vaping, product generations and substances used in these devices.
Can you quit smoking with e-cigarettes?
While e-cigarettes have the potential to benefit some people and harm others, scientists still have a lot to learn about whether e-cigarettes are effective for quitting smoking. If you’ve never smoked or used other tobacco products or e-cigarettes, don’t start. Additional research can help understand long-term health effects.
Can you smoke e-cigarettes while pregnant?
E-cigarettes have the potential to benefit adult smokers who are not pregnant if used as a complete substitute for regular cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products. E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, and pregnant women, as well as adults who do not currently use tobacco products. While e-cigarettes have the potential ...
What is an e-cigarette?
E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid into an aerosol vapor for inhalation. [ 3 ] . The liquids often contain nicotine (which is derived from tobacco) and flavorings such as mint, mango, or tobacco. [ 4 ] .
How much more likely is vaping to quit smoking?
A July 2019 study found that cigarettes smokers who picked up vaping were 67% more likely to quit smoking. [ 48] . A New England Journal of Medicine study found that e-cigarettes are twice as effective at getting people to quit smoking as traditional nicotine replacements such as the patch and gum. [ 14] .
Why are electronic cigarettes good for health?
E-cigarettes reduce health care costs, create jobs, and help the economy. Sally Satel, a psychiatrist specializing in addiction and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, wrote that “promoting electronic cigarettes to smokers should be a public health priority.
How much does e-cigarettes cause?
E-cigarettes caused a 50% increase in the rate of people using a product designed to help people quit smoking. [ 15] Traditional cigarettes are known to cause health problems such as lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. [ 10] .
What are the components of a vaporizer?
The main components are generally flavoring, nicotine, and water , along with vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol, which distribute the flavor and nicotine in the liquid and create the vapor. [ 44 ] [ 45 ] 5 Different Designs of E-Cigarettes/Vapes.
What gases do e-cigarettes release?
Burning a traditional cigarette releases noxious gases such as carbon monoxide. Cigarette smoke contains tar, which accounts for most of the carcinogens associated with smoking. E-cigarettes don’t have those gases or tar. [ 12] .
When was vaping first introduced?
Vaping is the act of using e-cigarettes, which were first introduced in the United States around 2006. [ 5]
Why are e-cigarettes so popular?
First, many teens believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking. Second, e-cigarettes have a lower per-use cost than traditional cigarettes.
How many chemicals are in e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic. While we don’t know exactly what chemicals are in e-cigarettes, Blaha says “there’s almost no doubt that they expose you to fewer toxic chemicals than traditional cigarettes.”
How many people died from vaping in 2020?
As of Jan. 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 60 deaths in patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI).
How many people want to quit smoking?
If you have thought about trying to kick a smoking habit, you’re not alone. Nearly 7 of 10 smokers say they want to stop. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health — smoking harms nearly every organ in your body, including your heart. Nearly one-third of deaths from heart disease are the result of smoking and secondhand smoke.
Is vaping bad for you?
Is vaping bad for you? There are many unknowns about vaping, including what chemicals make up the vapor and how they affect physical health over the long term . “People need to understand that e-cigarettes are potentially dangerous to your health,” says Blaha. “Emerging data suggests links to chronic lung disease and asthma, and associations between dual use of e-cigarettes and smoking with cardiovascular disease. You’re exposing yourself to all kinds of chemicals that we don’t yet understand and that are probably not safe.”
Is nicotine a substance?
Nicotine is the primary agent in both regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is highly addictive. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is also a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.
Can you use THC in a vape?
The CDC recommends that people: Do not use THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Avoid using informal sources, such as friends, family or online dealers to obtain a vaping device. Do not modify or add any substances to a vaping device that are not intended by the manufacturer.
Many downsides. Few Potential upsides.
A Threat to Kids and Young people.
- Tobacco companies want to hook a new generation on nicotine and smoking. 1. They spent more than $8.6 billion on aggressive marketing in 2017 alone. That’s more than $23 million each day and almost $1 million every hour! 2. Nearly 80% of middle and high school students — that’s 4 out of 5 kids — were exposed to e-cigarette advertising in 2016. 3. E-cigarettes are now the most co…
More Effort and Research Are Needed.
- The Surgeon General called e-cigarette use among young people a “public health concern.” The American Heart Association shares that view. That’s why we advocate for stronger regulations that: 1. Include e-cigarettes in smoke-free laws. 2. Regulate and tax e-cigarettes in the same way as all other tobacco products. 3. Remove all flavors, including menthol, which make these produ…
What’s The Bottom Line?
- Kids, young people and pregnant women should not use or be exposed to e-cigarettes.
- People trying to quit smoking or using tobacco products should try proven tobacco cessation therapies before considering using e-cigarettes, which have not been proven effective.
- People who do not currently smoke or use tobacco products should not use e-cigarettes.