In recent times, vaping has become one of the more popular ways of consuming not just tobacco, but also cannabis. Just like cigarette smoking, vaping is also addictive.
Vaping involves the use of devices variously known as vapes, electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes, e-cigs, pens and hookahs. These devices heat up a liquid to create a vapor you inhale.
Over the last several years, the use of electronic cigarettes has increased remarkably especially amongst the younger generation. A U.S. study done a few years ago showed that 3.6 million children in middle school and high school use e-cigarettes.
For many years, nicotine replacement therapy has been used as a safer alternative to cigarette smoking in adults. Recently, however, vaping has become a common harm reduction modality for both adults and teenagers.
Even though some studies have shown vaping to be safer than smoking cigarettes, it remains harmful to the body and is associated with several medical conditions.
While many vaping products typically contain about half of the nicotine found in a cigarette, this does not make them safe. You are still prone to various health risks from the effects of vaping.
Vaping devices come in different sizes, colors and shapes. These devices produce an aerosol from heating up a liquid within the e-cigarette called E-juice or E-liquid. These come in many different flavors. The E-liquid contains 4 major ingredients - these are nicotine, flavoring, vegetable glycerin (glycerol), and propylene glycol.
Nicotine is similar to that found in cigarettes and affects the brain receptors in the same way. When inhaled, nicotine gets to the brain in about 7-10 seconds. It attaches to regions of the brain known as acetylcholine receptors. This causes a release of dopamine from the brain's reward center. The changes that occur in the brain chemistry lead to tolerance and withdrawals.
Also, it is important to note that nicotine found naturally in tobacco leaf is generally considered to be a more stable form of nicotine as it is uncharged. This is not the case with nicotine found in e-cigarettes.
The second ingredient is Flavoring. The various flavors found in vapes are made from different chemical compounds. These can adversely affect your health.
The third ingredient found in e-cigarettes is propylene glycol. This is an additive that is found in food, cosmetics, toothpaste, and hand sanitizer.
Vegetable glycerin, the fourth ingredient, is obtained from vegetables. It is used as a sweetener and food preservative.
The problem with having propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin in e-cigarettes is that they get heated up and this changes these compounds to other chemicals that have a risk to the user.
For example, vegetable glycerin when heated changes to acrolein, a chemical that can irritate your breathing passage. Propylene Glycol also breaks down to formaldehyde - a known cancer-causing agent.
So, even though electronic cigarettes have only 4 major components, you are exposed to as many as 18 additional compounds when you vape. This is mostly due to the chemical process that occurs when you heat up the e-liquid within the electronic cigarette. Many of these new chemicals are associated with a risk to the human body.
In addition, the type of metal used in electronic cigarettes also has consequences on your body.
Sadly, vaping devices have also been used to deliver marijuana and other drugs. In fact, there have been overdoses and deaths as a result of e-cigarettes laced with fentanyl and other illicit substances.
Lately, there has been an advancement in the e-liquid component of e-cigarettes. This involves using nicotine salt. Nicotine salt is sometimes known as nic salt, salt nic, or salt nicotine. Nicotine salt is charged. It also has a higher pH and a harsher taste.
To make this nicotine salt taste better and feel smoother, it is combined with a chemical known as benzoic acid. What this means is that much higher concentrations of nicotine can be delivered by electronic cigarettes that use nicotine salts.
This means that tolerance, withdrawal, and as such addiction, remain an issue even for people who vape.
There are no medications available to treat tobacco addiction in adolescents at this time. Counseling interventions are recommended for adolescent smokers to help them quit smoking. Studies show counseling in adolescents is quite effective and may double the chances of keeping them smoke-free.
Some researchers show that the adolescent brain continues to grow until about 25 yrs of age. Nicotine, is a stimulant which has been shown to harm the developing brain. Many vaping products do not show nicotine as a component. An adolescent who uses a product that contains nicotine can develop problems with impulse control, learning, attention, and mood.
To avoid damage to your brain, lungs and other body organs, you are better off abstaining from vaping.
Quit vaping. Live healthier. Live longer.