Vaping: The New Wave Of Nicotine Addiction
Vaping is the inhalation of vapor made by an electronic device called an E-Cigarette device. This device is capable of heating up and converting the pre-filled liquid into vapors that are inhaled. The liquid inside it is called e-liquid or “vape juice” and contains hallucinogenic components. It can contain nicotine or marijuana distillate or oil. They are refillable or pre-filled with cartridges containing the e-liquid. Though Vaping is likely much less harmful than smoking cigarettes its toxicity is completely defined by its composition. Thus using a composition of toxic composition is harmful and can lead to various health and emotional demerits. Let’s throw some light on the harmful effects of vaping.
Also read- Toxic air pollutants found in lungs, brains of unborn babies (mybiologydictionary.com)
Table of Contents
What’s With The Vaping Device?
The device actually stimulates cigarette smoking in the user. It consists of a power source such as a battery, an atomizer, and a container such as a cartridge or a tank. The atomizer is the heating element and is thus responsible for converting the liquid to vapor. This quickly cools into an aerosol of tiny droplets, vapor, and air. E-liquid concoctions usually include some mix of flavorings, aromatic additives, and nicotine or THC (the chemical in marijuana), dissolved in an oily liquid base mainly propylene glycol or glycine. The pre-filled E-cigarettes are called “Puff Bars” and are designed for one-time use. That after taking a certain number of “puffs,” the user throws the device away. Therefore it becomes a one-time-use device.
What is the difference between vaping and smoking cigarettes?
Vaping E-cigarettes correlates with smoking among young people, even in those who would otherwise be unlikely to smoke. Both involve inhaling nicotine and other substances into your lungs via the respiratory tract. Smoking involves burning tobacco which creates smoke while vaping involves heating liquid to make an aerosol. Thus by some or other means tobacco or other harmful components are consumed and the consequences lead to health issues.
There’s a reason why we cannot definitely say which is the worse of the two. This is because vaping is not yet normalized or hasn’t been around long enough to know what kind of long-term damage it might cause. Researchers don’t yet know all the effects vaping can have on your body.
Harmful Effects Of Vaping
Vaping is anyway the consumption of toxic components and is dangerous to human health in a number of ways. Nowadays people tend to think of vaping as “safer” than smoking, but it’s not safe. Harmful effects of vaping not only include lungs damage but also other organ damage, breathing problems, addiction, and more such health issues.
Vaping and Popcorn Lung – Lung scarring
Popcorn lung is the other name for bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) which is a rare condition that results from damage to the small airways in the lungs. It is named so as it was originally discovered first in the workers of the popcorn factory. The main culprit here is diacetyl which is a chemical used in some flavourings in food (especially butter flavouring in popcorn). Lung airways get blocked which makes breathing difficult thus Popcorn lung has no lasting treatment.
Asthma
Vaping is more likely to get you in trouble with asthma or worsen any existing condition in the lung. It can definitely make your existing asthma worse.
EVALI (E-cigarette, or Vaping Associated Lung Injury)
It is a severe lung disorder caused by frequent vaping. EVALI has many widespread symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain apart from major lung damage. EVALI can turn fatal if the conditions keep turning worse.
Vaping-Related Lipoid Pneumonia
Lipoid pneumonia is a condition that developed when fatty acids (the building blocks of fat) enter the lungs. Unlike smoking, vaping exposes the lungs to oily substances found in E-liquid, which sparks an inflammatory response in the lungs. Thus causing pneumonia. This is followed by
- Chronic cough
- Coughing of blood
- Shortness in breathe
Collapsed Lung
Collapsed lung also called Primary spontaneous pneumothorax, occurs when there’s a hole in the lung through which oxygen escapes. While the body grows this may develop into a blister or much like a severe wound. Vapin, on top of that, is associated with an increased risk of bursting these blisters, leading to lung collapse. Its signs include
- Severe chest and shoulder pain,
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness in breath
Side Effects Of Vaping (E-Cigarettes)
There are a lot of short-term effects of vaping that are actually worth being treated at the initial stages.
- Coughing.
- Shortness of breath
- Dry and irritated mouth and throat.
- Nausea.
- Eye irritation.
- Headaches
Whereas the long-term effects of vaping are many and are the major health risks to delicate organs of the body.
Addiction:
Addiction in the growing brain demands for the vaping components may set up pathways for later addiction to other substances. The reinforcing effects of nicotine present in the e-liquid play a significant role at the beginning and continuing use of the drug. First-time nicotine users develop a dependence about 32% of the time thus leading to a serious addiction at long-term use.
Brain risks:
Nicotine affects your brain’s functioning and development. This can make it harder for you to learn and concentrate. Some of the brain changes are permanent and can affect your mood, emotions, and ability to control your impulses as an adult.
Vaping in Pregnancy:
Vaping exposes the mother to some of the same chemicals that cigarette smoking does. Using E-cigarettes while pregnant can cause low birth weight in the infant, lung damage, and brain damage in the developing fetus. Therefore it’s extremely unsafe to use e-cigarettes during pregnancy for both the mother and baby.
Toxins (poisons):
The vapor made from e-cigarettes is not made of water but toxic components. The vapor contains harmful chemicals and very fine particles that are inhaled into the lungs and exhaled into the environment. Thus both a toxic substance for health and the environment both.
Can Vaping Cause Lung Cancer?
Vaping is obviously carcinogenic when inhaled with nicotine content. Cancer is thus definitely a concern, given that vaping introduces a host of chemicals into the lungs. But vaping products or E-cigarettes haven’t been around long enough for us to learn whether or not they cause cancer.
Whatever the consequences are that are going to be explored by long-term use, one of the harmful effects of vaping is the inhalation of a such toxic substance. The harm caused by it cannot be hidden by its advanced technology and fashionable picture in public. The legal status of e-cigarettes is currently pending in many countries. E-cigarettes should be considered on the basis of reported adverse health effects till any further legal regulations.
Thanks for reading
Team MBD
