The Side Effects of Vaping

The Side Effects of Vaping

Vaping has gained a lot of popularity as an alternative to cigarettes. While cigarettes use tobacco to create smoke, vapes heat a pod that contains an e-liquid, which is made from nicotine, flavoring, synthetic liquids like propylene glycol and glycerin, and carcinogens (which cause cancer). This combination forms an aerosol that the individual vaping will inhale. 

Is vaping bad for you? In short, yes. Let's break down all side effects and health risks, and how you can quit vaping for good.

What Does Vaping Do to You?

The chemicals found in vapes are much more concentrated in tobacco cigarettes, making it a technically safer option. Unfortunately, there are still plenty of vaping side effects that you should be aware of. 

• Headaches
• Coughing
• Trouble breathing
• Nausea
• Eye irritation
• Cotton mouth

When comparing vaping vs. smoking, vaping typically has more nicotine content. Depending on the type of vaping device an individual uses, they can inhale the equivalent of up to 90 cigarettes in one pod. One cigarette equals one milligram of nicotine, so in this case, one pod equals 90 milligrams of nicotine. Inhalation of nicotine and other chemicals can have a drastic, life-altering effect on an individual's organs, especially the lungs and heart. Vaping health risks include:

• Asthma - A chronic disease that causes the airways to swell up, making it difficult to breathe.
• Bronchiolitis Obliterans ("popcorn lung") - Lung scarring in the airways that leads to swelling.
• Cancer - A disorder that affects the cells, causing them to spread throught the body and create tumors.
• High blood pressure (hypertension) - Occurs when too much blood is pushed through the arteries, subsequently damaging them and putting the individual at risk for stroke or heart attack.
• EVALI - A condition caused by vaping that has symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain, and, in severe cases, death.

Side Effects of Vaping in Females

While both men and women can experience similar symptoms caused by vaping, women need to consider the side effects of vaping during pregnancy. The nicotine, solvents, and chemicals found in vapes can be harmful not only to the woman but also to the baby during pregnancy, leading to permanent brain and organ damage in the infant.

Side Effects from Quitting Vaping

While we encourage you to quit vaping, we must note that stopping vaping can cause nicotine withdrawal. This is a response to your body no longer receiving nicotine, and is characterized by symptoms of irritability, depression, anxiety, insomnia, hunger concentrating, and a strong desire to use nicotine again.

The symptoms are typically strongest within the first few days of quitting, but gradually taper off in the following weeks. In that time, an individual may experience more symptoms like nausea or a sore throat.

Vaping is bad for you. Even though it's uncomfortable, the side effects of quitting vaping are worth it in order to get your health back on track. 

How to Quit Vaping

First, tell trusted friends and family that you plan on quitting vaping. They can hold you accountable and encourage you to stay strong. You must also throw away any and all vaping devices and eliminate things that remind you of them. Cutting out the ease of access to these things will help you quit. Lastly, focus on your lifestyle. Explore new hobbies, hang out with a friend, exercise - whatever it takes to shift your mindset to a healthier way of living.

Quitting vaping isn't easy, but the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. You'll never regret putting your health first and breathing new life into your lungs. You got this!