Vaping FAQs

how is vaping different than cigarettes

by Carroll Abernathy Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, vaping may be slightly less harmful than smoking. They note that a person who smokes inhales about 7,000 chemicals, whereas vaping likely involves a lower number of chemicals. The AHA note that vaping liquids contain fewer contaminants than cigarettes.

1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. 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.

Full Answer

How does vaping compare to cigarettes?

  • 3mg (for light smokers) — if you smoke 1 to 5 cigarettes per day then these levels should do the trick;
  • 9mg (for casual smokers) — if you smoke half a pack per day, a liquid of 100ml with 0.9% will be right up your alley.
  • 18mg (for heavy smokers) — anywhere between 20 and more cigarettes per day.

How much better is vaping than smoking?

Nevertheless, scientists have reached a reasonable consensus that vaping is safer than regular cigarettes. Although vaping potentially exposes vapers to an array of toxic chemicals, there are fewer chemicals and the levels of those chemicals are much less toxic than those found in regular, combustible cigarettes.

Which is worse vaping or cigarettes?

One is definitely worse than the other. Any amount of smoking, no matter how little is worse than any amount of vaping, no matter how much. There's no comparison. Smoking causes numerous health issues and can have deadly consequences. Vaping has been studied extensively and there is no evidence of any negative long term affects.

Why vaping is worse than smoking?

Vaping may be worse for you than traditional smoking, a new study claims. Greek researchers found that flavorings in e-cigarettes harm the lungs by causing inflammation. Experiments, conducted on...

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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.

What do tobacco companies want to do?

Tobacco companies want to hook a new generation on nicotine and smoking.

What does a battery operated device look like?

The battery-operated devices come in many forms and can look like conventional cigarettes, pens or even sleek tech gadgets. Users inhale and exhale a vapor-like aerosol. This way of taking in nicotine poses health risks to both users and non-users.

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.

What are the best ways to quit smoking?

Quitting smoking is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. There are many non-vaping support tools that can help you kick the habit for good. Keep in mind that it may take more than one attempt before you quit. What’s important is that you keep trying.

Are vapes different from e-cigarettes?

Vapes and e-cigarettes are the same thing, and they come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. They can also contain different ingredients, including nicotine, cannabis, or other substances. Keep in mind that there is no standard type of e-cigarette. This makes it hard to know how they affect the health of the population as a whole.

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 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.

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.

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.

What are the chemicals in vaping?

The primary process of vaping removes the need to combust anything, removing a handful of the harmless chemicals listed above. Studies on the vapor produced from vaping suggest there is a significant difference between the number of carcinogens found compared to cigarette smoke. With over 20+ chemicals found in cigarette smoke compared to only a few in the vapor. Here are just a few of the chemicals found in vapor: 1 Nicotine – The addictive chemical, gives the user the desire to want more. When people say they’re addicted to smoking, they’re addicted to nicotine. 2 Propylene Glycol 3 Vegetable Glycerin 4 Acetaldehyde 5 Nitrosamines

What does an e-cigarette smell like?

Smell: Cigarettes smell very unpleasant to some, and the smell can linger in a room for hours, if not days. E-cigarettes smell like the flavoring inside the liquid (cherry, cake, strawberry, etc.).

What happens when you burn tobacco?

The combustion of the tobacco leaf starts the process of chemical reactions, which creates smoke full of the previously mentioned carcinogens. (Cancer.org,2017)

Why does e-cigarette smoke leave a yellow residue?

Residue: Cigarette smoke leaves a yellow-brown residue on whatever it touched because it contains tar. E-cigarette vapor also leaves a thin coating on what it touches, but it is much easier to clean.

Is vaping a new thing?

Vaping is still pretty new to the market, only having been around for about a decade or so. Since it hasn’t been part of the public as much as cigarette smoking, there’s a lot that people don’t know about it. Here, several aspects regarding the two habits of vaping vs. smoking will be discussed to help you understand how they are similar or different.

Is vaping still around?

Vaping is still pretty new to the market, only having been around for about a decade or so. Since it hasn’t been part of the public as much as cigarette smoking, there’s a lot that people don’t know about it.

How much has the smoking fire decreased between 1980 and 2011?

Between 1980 and 2011, there has been a decrease of around 73% in the amount of smoking-material fires. This is thought to have been a result of standards and regulations put in place for the fire-proof standards of mattresses and furniture.

What is the difference between e-cigarettes and cigarettes?

Whereas in e-cigarettes, you are aerosolizing in a liquid. By definition, that’s a very different exposure.

What are the chemicals in vaping?

The vast majority of these vaping products contain what we refer to as base compounds. That’s propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. And when that’s heated to a certain temperature, it actually forms things like acrolein, formaldehyde, acid aldehydes. These are all chemicals that we know are toxic when inhaled.

Is there anything more toxic than cigarettes?

I always say that was the wrong comparison to begin with. There isn’t really — at least not to my knowledge — any consumer product that if used according to its instructions is more toxic than cigarettes. Period. So finding something that is more unsafe than cigarettes I think would be hard to do just because of where we are with the toxicity of cigarettes.

Can you take nicotine in a cigarette?

That’s actually very irritating to the back of your throat. So, you can only take in a limited amount.

Can you put flavoring in e-liquid?

There are certain flavoring compounds that should never be contained in any e-liquid. We know they’re dangerous. We know they cause irritation. We know they cause toxicity. They should not be allowed in any e-cigarette, in any flavored vaping device or vaping product.

What are the two ways of vaping?

(Logic even draws a distinction between e-cigarettes and vapes on its website ). E-cigarettes are also what you’d typically see behind the counter at a mini-mart or convenience store.

What is a vape?

Vaping is a bit more involved than simply attaching a cartridge to a battery. Most vapes include a larger battery area—some of which use lithium-ion batteries—that attaches to a tank that includes several parts. These are sometimes referred to as “mods.”

What happens when a vape tank gets low?

When the tank gets low, a person using a vape refills it with more e-liquid rather than just discarding a cartridge or pod as you would with an e-cigarette. There are various different kinds of mods that are out there, some more complex than others and some that are said to get better flavor than others.

What does an e-cigarette look like?

An e-cigarette looks like, well, a longer cigarette. In fact, sometimes these devices are referred to as “ cigalikes .”. Essentially, instead of filling a tank like a vape, most e-cigarettes have a battery element (either rechargeable or disposable) that attaches with a pod or cartridge that is filled with an e-liquid which is heated ...

Do vapes have a longer battery life than e-cigarettes?

Vapes tend to have a longer battery life than e-cigarettes. You typically buy these kinds of materials at a vape shop. The flavors available to those who use this kind of device are pretty endless, with a variety of different options available at most shops.

Is there a difference between vape and e-cigarette?

However, while the terms “vape” and “e-cigarette” are thrown around a lot, there is a difference between them, and that distinction could potentially be important as the federal government continues ...

Is vaping the same as e-cigarettes?

Both vapes and using e-cigarettes achieve the same purpose: inhaling vapor (either with nicotine, or without), and involve the heating of some sort of liquid (either within a tank or via a cartridge).

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 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 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 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 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.

Is e-cigarettes as addictive as heroin?

Both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes contain nicotine, which research suggests may be as addictive as heroin and cocaine. What’s worse, says Blaha, many e-cigarette users get even more nicotine than they would from a tobacco product — you can buy extra-strength cartridges, which have a higher concentration of nicotine, or you can increase the e-cigarette’s voltage to get a greater hit of the substance.

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Many downsides. Few Potential upsides.

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E-cigarette promoters claim the devices can help people quit smoking. But much more evidence is needed to determine if they are an effective way to quit. Research suggests that users are more likely to continue smoking along with vaping, which is referred to as “dual use.” The American Heart Association recommends proven m…
See more on heart.org

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…
See more on heart.org

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…
See more on heart.org

What’s The Bottom Line?

  1. Kids, young people and pregnant women should not use or be exposed to e-cigarettes.
  2. 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.
  3. People who do not currently smoke or use tobacco products should not use e-cigarettes.
See more on heart.org

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