Vape or cigarettes: which is more dangerous

The effect of vaping on the body of adolescents

E-vaping fluids contain several potentially harmful chemicals. Vaping-related lung damage is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. “Syndromes like this have spread because of vaping,” says Dr. Panagias Galiatzatos, director of the tobacco treatment clinic at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore. He investigated the different types of respiratory injury associated with vaping. “This is our new generation of lung diseases,” says the doctor.

Some types of vaping liquids contain nicotine, the effects of which on the body have been well studied. It slows down the development of the brains of adolescents and has a negative effect on memory, concentration, self-control and learning ability. Some e-cigarettes look like a flash drive that can be charged from a computer and laptop, while the nicotine level in the capsule is comparable to a whole pack of cigarettes. Other side effects, including from the constant smoking of vapes with nicotine-free liquids, include weakening of the immune system, damage to the tissues of the lungs and heart, and cognitive impairment.

In a recent study, researchers compared three groups of teenagers: some constantly used only electronic cigarettes, the second - sometimes preferred electronic cigarettes in addition to standard ones, and others - never smoked either one or the other. As a result, significantly more toxic chemicals were found in the urine of adolescents from the first group, including acrylonitrile, acrolein, propylene oxide, acrylamide and crotonaldehyde.

Vape or cigarettes: which is more dangerous

A 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association confirms that the harm from e-cigarettes is comparable to that of traditional smoking. Scientists have compared the level of vascular health in smokers and vapers. The experiment involved more than 400 people aged 21–45 years. They passed an analysis to examine samples of arterial cells. The results were the same for both regular cigarette lovers and those who preferred electronic cigarettes. In both groups, doctors noted marked damage to the blood vessels, low oxygen levels in the cells, and increased rigidity of the vascular wall.

Doctors argue that e-cigarettes raise the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, and therefore vaping should not be considered as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes in terms of effects on the body. In addition, scientists have identified low levels of nitric oxide molecules in vaper cells. This indicator directly indicates respiratory function, as well as immunity and cardiovascular homeostasis.

That is, vape, like cigarettes, negatively affects not only the lungs, but also other body systems and general health. According to experts, children, adolescents and pregnant women should never use electronic cigarettes.

Is there a harmless vape

Several manufacturers of vaping products and Vapour Store claim that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking. However, research shows that this is not the case. In fact, vaping, including without nicotine, can have harmful effects on the body. Side effects often depend on the type of liquid used in e-cigarettes. Many of its ingredients are GRAS certified, which means they can be used for food purposes. However, during the process of smoking, they heat up, evaporate and can have toxic effects on the body. A 2015 study found that heating glycerin and propylene glycol in vaping liquids produces compounds that release formaldehyde. The substance belongs to group 1 carcinogens, i.e. may increase the risk of cancer.

In addition, frequent inhalation can cause dryness of the mouth and throat, just like smoking regular cigarettes. And nicotine has nothing to do with it. As the authors of the e-cigarette study note in the book Diseases Caused by Tobacco, inhaling large amounts of propylene glycol and glycerin can damage the airways. They also point out that the level of these chemicals in an e-cigarette is high enough to irritate the mucous membranes after just one puff.