ModernHealthJournal.com

Today we're going to talk about vaping. Whether you love it or hate it, it's a global phenomenon which is taking first world countries by storm. People who support vaping argue, among other things, that it's a safer and healthier way to break their addiction to toxic cigarettes. They also claim that the second hand smoke from vapes, as opposed to other nicotine products, is safe and not nearly as offensive as second-hand cigarette smoke. But is vaping really as safe and beneficial as its supporters claim? Or is there a darker side to this habit that the vaping community refuses to acknowledge? We're going to look at both sides of this debate and give you the information you need to decide for yourself.

Vapes and E-Cigs: Is There a Difference?

Electronic cigarettes ("e-cigs" for short) and vaporizers (AKA "vapes") have so much in common that it can be easy to use these terms interchangeably. However, there are enough differences between the two to justify a distinction. Some of these differences include:

• Size and shape: Vapes are typically larger than e-cigs, and come in a greater variety of shapes. E-cigs are smaller, and most of them are shaped like the cigarettes they are meant to replace. The size difference means that there are vastly different recharging times between devices. Furthermore, the smaller the unit, the more frequently you will have to purchase new cartridges or refill fluids.
• Environmental impact: Certain brands of e-cigs have such a simple design that it makes them disposable. But even if the device itself is meant for long-term, repeated use, the cartridges are smaller and need to be replaced more frequently than with a vape. This leads to more trash, regardless of whether your e-cig is disposable or if it takes replacement cartridges. Vapes, on the other hand, usually come with a reusable cartridge which only requires that you refill it with new flavors and liquid nicotine from time to time. If you buy these fluids in bulk, you can create less trash.
• Legal implications: Since e-cigs resemble their carcinogenic predecessors so closely, they may be banned in restaurants and bars where cigarettes are already prohibited. This is already the case in many states across the country. Vapes, on the other hand, may get a free pass. But this isn't always the case. In addition to regular smoking bans, some vapes may be banned in public because they can be customized for marijuana consumption. Vape users may put themselves at risk for police harassment or worse by vaping outside the home.
• Customization: Vapes are highly customizable, especially compared to e-cigs. Some users have even tampered with the mechanical components of their machine to produce a better vaping experience. There's also a greater variety of flavors and nicotine levels to choose from. The refillable cartridges allow vapers to mix and match based on their needs and desires. Most e-cigs, on the other hand, are either extremely difficult or impossible to customize without breaking the device. And since they only use pre-made disposable cartridges, there's less variety for e-cig smokers to choose from.

Why People Support the Vape

For starters, vaping could be perceived as a much less disgusting habit than smoking cigarettes. Cigarette smokers typically have bad breath, yellow teeth, wrinkled skin, fingernail discoloration, and the smell of smoke lingering on them wherever they go. Second hand smoke from cigarettes is also unpleasant for most people - especially non-smokers - to be around. Vape smoke, on the other hand, is much less offensive to the senses. Some people even claim they like to be around people who vape, even if they don't vape themselves, because of the tasty- or pleasant-smelling flavors.

Another argument in support of vaping relates to how users can gradually step down there nicotine use as they would with a patch or nicotine gum. They can do this in a less problematic way than using those alternative products (which we'll discuss below). Vapers can go at their own pace and reduce the amount of nicotine they inhale in increments which work best for them. This could make it easier for some smokers to quit nicotine or even give up their smoking habit altogether.

Health and safety is another issue which vape lovers claim works in their favor. The main ingredients in cartridge fluid are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. The FDA claims that these chemicals are safe to consume in vaporized form. However,  those aren't the only ingredients which make up cartridge fluid. These extra ingredients could prove themselves to be problematic for both vaping enthusiasts and for people's health.

The Dark Side of Vaping

Some of these problematic chemicals include (but are far from limited to) lead, formaldehyde, and nitrosamines. These chemicals aren't just toxic, they have also been classified as carcinogenic according to many different health organizations around the world. Furthermore, just like cigarette smoke, second hand vape smoke from cartridges which contain these toxic chemicals can cause health problems for people who are frequently exposed to secondhand vaping.

While vaping may reduce your risk of lung cancer, people who vape are still leaving themselves open and vulnerable to other debilitating diseases. Bronchitis, COPD, and cystic fibrosis are still on the table for people who smoke vaporizers. Furthermore, if the liquids that people vape contain nicotine, there is still a very real possibility that they could develop heart disease. Nicotine itself has been found to cause hardening of the arteries, which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Finally, there's this social stigma associated with vaping which, although not universal, has a dominant presence in most first world cultures. It's hard to find a movie or a TV show which doesn't mock vape culture for the sake of a cheap laugh. People who vape are often portrayed as "douchebags" and "hipsters", even though there's a significant number of vapers out there who don't fit the stereotype.

Lastly, as we touched on earlier, certain vaping devices can also accommodate cannabis use. In addition to police harassment and legal troubles, the social stigma against people who use cannabis (whether for medicinal or recreational reasons) is still predominant in society today. Thankfully, though, this trend is fading - although not as fast as the stigma directed towards people who vape.

Should Cigarette Smokers Vape, or Are There Healthier Alternatives?

If you have no intention of giving up smoking or nicotine, but you want a slightly healthier alternative, then vaping may be your best option. Yes, you will still be exposing yourself to chemicals that can give you lung and heart diseases. But you may be at lower risk for them with a vape, and you won't have to experience the negative aesthetic consequences of cigarette smoking.

If you actually want to quit smoking and/or nicotine all together, then there are other options besides vaping. Prescription drugs, nicotine patches, and nicotine gum can all help address your nicotine addiction and gradually help you step down so that your brain doesn't crave it anymore. If the patch or gum hasn't worked for you in the past, you may want to talk to your doctor about prescription drugs like Chantix (varenicline), Wellbutrin (Zyban, bupropion), Nortriptyline, or Clonidine. All of these drugs have shown some level of success when it comes to smoking cessation.

Nicotine gum, patches, and smoking cessation prescription drugs do have one fatal flaw: they fail to address the dopamine problem of cigarette smoking addiction. In truth, whether it's a substance or a bad habit, all forms of addiction and substance abuse are related to a malfunctioning dopamine reward response in the human brain. But the problem is compounded in the brains of cigarette smokers due to specific receptors which become chemically addicted to nicotine as well. Patches, drugs, and gum are only capable of reducing your chemical addiction to nicotine. They don't get rid of that euphoric rush you get when you light a fresh cigarette, hold it in your hand, and enjoy a blissful "smoke break". Furthermore, many smokers experience significant weight gain after quitting, which can cause a negative self-image and depressive symptoms.

Thankfully, some very smart medical practitioners out there are combining smoking cessation anti-nicotine drugs with a drug called Naltrexone. Naltrexone has helped millions of people overcome alcohol and heroin addictions. It works by altering the dopamine reward response in the brain which causes that euphoric feeling addicts get when they abuse opiates or alcohol. When used by itself or in combination with other prescriptions, it can work wonders for anyone who is desperate to quit smoking but can't do it on their own.

Whether you're pro-vape or anti-vape, we hope this article has been informative and useful for you. Clearly, there are some risks associated with vaping. But for some, these risks may be well worth the reward. Good luck, and happy vaping (if that's your thing)!