Vaping FAQs

is vaping worse for you than smoking cigarettes

by Kaitlin Douglas Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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The first study found that vaping can worsen several heart disease risk factors at levels equal to tobacco cigarettes, while the second found that e-cigarettes decrease blood flow in the heart even more than tobacco cigarettes. Effects on Blood Cholesterol

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

What is more harmful vape or smoking?

Which is more harmful, vaping or smoking? Smoking is definitely more harmful as carbon monoxide and tar are by-products of tobacco combustion, and studies have shown that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking.

How dangerous is vaping compared to smoking?

Vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes! However, it doesn’t change the fact that you are still inhaling a lot of bad stuff into your lungs. Vapes contain A LOT LESS chemicals than your traditional nicotine cigarette. When smoking a cigarette, you’re smoking a lot of stuff, including Carbon Monoxide, which can harm your blood cells.

Is vaping really healthier than smoking?

The American Heart Association recommends proven methods to successfully quit smoking. Many people think vaping is less harmful than smoking. While it’s true that e-cigarette aerosol doesn’t include all the contaminants in tobacco smoke, it still isn’t safe.

Is vaping as bad as smoking cigarettes?

Vaping May Be More Dangerous Than Cigarette Smoking, Studies Show. Some people take up vaping – or inhaling vapor from electronic cigarettes – to avoid the health hazards of smoking cigarettes made with tobacco.

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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.

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.

How many participants were recruited in the first study of e-cigarettes?

In the first study, researchers looked at the impact of e-cigarettes on lipids and glucose in the blood. They recruited 476 healthy human participants without cardiovascular disease who were either nonsmokers, e-cigarette-only smokers, smokers of e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes and those who smoked tobacco cigarettes only.

Is it safe to smoke e-cigarettes?

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.

Is LDL cholesterol higher in e-cigarettes?

Results showed that total cholesterol and LDL or “bad” cholesterol was higher in sole e-cigarette users compared to nonsmokers. The researchers said that the findings suggest that if tobacco cigarette smokers who use e-cigarettes for a healthier alternative to tobacco won’t benefit by the switch.

Is vaping dangerous?

Vaping May Be More Dangerous Than Cigarette Smoking, Studies Show. Some people take up vaping – or inhaling vapor from electronic cigarettes – to avoid the health hazards of smoking cigarettes made with tobacco.

Does vaping cause heart disease?

The first study found that vaping can worsen several heart disease risk factors at levels equal to tobacco cigarettes, while the second found that e-cigarettes decrease blood flow in the heart even more than tobacco cigarettes.

Can vaping cause lung injury?

There already is a clear connection between e-cigarettes and a lung condition called E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), Dr. Cireddu says.

Does blood flow decrease after smoking?

In smokers who smoke tobacco cigarettes, blood flow increased modestly after cigarette inhalation and then decreased with subsequent stress. However, with those who vaped, blood flow decreased after inhalation at rest and also after handgrip stress.

Why is it so hard to compare nicotine levels when vaping?

It can be tough to compare just how much nicotine you take in while vaping as opposed to smoking in part because different products have different concentrations.

Why is it so hard to compare cigarettes to vaporizers?

Researchers suspect that heating up the vaporizing coils (which are often made of metals like nickel) can prompt some of the metals to get into the aerosol, resulting in higher toxic metal concentrations being inhaled than you’d find in the fluid alone. 6 

What Is Vaping?

Vaping and smoking both work by heating up substances that users inhale.

How does vaping work?

Vaping and smoking both work by heating up substance s that users inhale. Most e-cigarettes work by using a battery to heat up coils. These coils vaporize liquids within a cartridge or reservoir (thus the term “vaping”) and produce an aerosol that's inhaled.

Why do people use e-cigarettes?

To reduce the harm to their health from cigarettes , some smokers have turned to e-cigs. The devices can feel somewhat similar to cigarettes and contain the addictive nicotine without as many toxic chemicals. It can make the transition away from smoking a little smoother and offers a potential benefit. 1 .

What is the chemical in vaping?

Nicotine. Almost all vaping products include nicotine, the same addictive chemical found in cigarettes. 2  Nicotine affects the reward centers of your brain (which can eventually lead to addiction), as well as a whole range of body systems, including your heart and lungs.

Is vaping a new phenomenon?

Vaping is a relatively new phenomenon, which means there isn't research on the long-term health effects of electronic cigarettes (commonly called e-cigarettes, e-cigs, or vaping) compared to smoking.

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

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

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.

Why do you drink water after vaping?

Drink water right after you vape to prevent symptoms such as dry mouth and dehydration.

What are the long term effects of smoking cigarettes?

The long-term effects of smoking cigarettes are well-documented, and include an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and lung cancer.

What is juuling in vaping?

Juuling refers to vaping with a specific e-cigarette brand. It carries the same health risks as vaping.

What is second hand vapor?

According to the 2018 NAP report, secondhand vapor contains nicotine, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at concentrations that are above recommended levels . More research needs to be done to understand the long-term health effects of secondhand exposure to e-cigarette vapor.

Is vaping with nicotine bad for you?

A 2015 study suggests that people who vape with nicotine are more likely to become dependent on nicotine than people who vape without nicotine.

Does vaping cause heart attacks?

The authors of 2018 study used data from a different national health survey to come to a similar conclusion: Daily vaping is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, even when other lifestyle factors are taken into consideration. Finally, a 2017 review. Trusted Source.

Is vaping bad for you?

Yes, it is. Vaping has risks, regardless of what you vape. Starting to use e-cigarettes, or switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, increases your risk of devastating health effects. The safest option, according to the American Cancer Society, is to avoid both vaping and smoking altogether. Research into the health effects ...

How many people die from smoking cigarettes a year?

Cigarette smoking kills almost half a million people a year in the United States. Most of the harm comes from the thousands of chemicals that are burned and inhaled in the smoke, he explains. E-cigs don't burn, so people aren't as exposed to those toxins.

How much did e-cigarettes go up in 2015?

But, CDC stats on teen smoking show that while use of e-cigs went up to 24% in 2015, cigarette smoking dropped to an historic low -- to just under 11%.

Do They Lead Kids to Smoke?

Critics of e-cigarettes fear that vaping will get kids hooked on nicotine and that they'll "graduate" to cigarettes when they want a bigger kick, Warner says.

What is an e-cigarette?

The Basics. E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that can look like a real cigarette or pen. Some with refillable tanks look a bit different. There are hundreds of brands, and they're sometimes marketed as a way to get your nicotine fix without the danger of cigarettes. They all work the same basic way:

How long does it take for e-cigarettes to be approved?

E-cigarettes placed on the market after 2007 have to go through an FDA safety and approval review to enter or stay on the market. That could take years, but products can be sold while they wait for approval.

What is the chemical in e-cigarettes?

Flavors in e-cigs also raise red flags. Some use a buttery-tasting chemical called diacetyl, which is often added to foods like popcorn. When it's inhaled, it can be dangerous.

How old do you have to be to buy a vape?

In the summer of 2016, new rules about their sale went into effect. So you have to be 18 to buy them and show an ID if you're under 27.

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).

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 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.

Why do people smoke e-cigarettes?

“The patients I see tell me they smoke because it makes them feel more relaxed ,” says Humberto Choi, M.D., a pulmonologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “They cannot stop because the nicotine addiction is so strong.”

How do electronic cigarettes differ from combustible cigarettes?

But while both electronic and combustible cigarettes contain nicotine, they differ in the mechanism by which they deliver the chemical to the user. With e-cigarettes, a metal coil heats liquid in the vaping device, which then releases nicotine as an aerosol that people inhale. With combustible cigarettes, burning tobacco releases nicotine particles.

What causes a cigarette to burn?

Inflammation is also a result of smoking, but the causes are slightly different. To start with, combustible cigarettes are made from, wait for it, 7,000 chemicals, including all kinds of less-than-stellar things, like acetone (a.k.a. your nail polish remover) and arsenic, which is used to poison rats, according to the American Lung Association. Those chemicals can do damage to your lungs in several ways: 1 The smoke irritates and inflames your lung tissue. 2 Your lungs produce excess mucus to try and protect themselves from infection. 3 Inflammation and mucus constrict your airway. 4 The micro-hairs lining your lungs, called cilia, that are designed to keep lungs clean are destroyed. 5 The toxic chemicals you inhale are passed into your blood, and then circulated around your body.

Why are there fewer regulations for e-cigarettes than for tobacco products?

Because there are fewer regulations for e-cigarettes than there are for tobacco products, manufacturers have much more leeway in what they put in their e-devices, including how much nicotine each vaping cartridge can provide.

What are the byproducts of smoking tobacco?

Still, it’s the byproducts of burning tobacco when you smoke that have alarmed health experts the most over the years, including cadmium (found in batteries), lead and ammonia (also used in cleaning products). “The argument is that without combustion, you don’t have the byproducts which are pretty nasty,” says Glantz.

How long did it take to get hooked on e-cigarettes?

It took a little getting used to, but after about a month, you were hooked. No smoke in your clothing, no icky aftertaste in your mouth, no rummaging through your bag to find your lighter again. Not that you gave up cigarettes entirely—but now you had another way to satisfy your cravings, one you figured was better for your health. After all, no one dies from e-cigarettes, right?

Is vaping better than smoking?

Given the fact that vaping does away with tobacco, it’s natural to conclude it’s a healthier alternative to smoking. “The idea that e-cigarettes might be better than traditional cigarettes is not a crazy one—you can see why people might think that,” says Stanton Glantz, Ph.D., a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and former director of the UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education. “But the evidence is showing that’s simply not the case.”

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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 …
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.
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