Vaping with or without nicotine has been shown to impact impulse control, especially in young adults whose brains have not fully developed yet. Some of these risks include mood disorders and permanent damage to parts of the brain responsible for memory, emotion and critical thinking.
Studies on nicotine and anxiety show that any relief provided by vaping is temporary. And vaping can make anxiety worse. Nicotine negatively affects mood and brain function. While marijuana in low doses has been shown to decrease anxiety, high doses can cause anxiety and paranoia.
Though nicotine has not been found to directly cause mental health conditions, peer-reviewed studies reveal troubling links between vaping, nicotine, and worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as higher odds of having a depression diagnosis.
“So, you can get premature wrinkles and very dry skin. In addition to skin aging, too, vaping can also delay wound healing. Nicotine use also is linked to chronic skin conditions like acne and psoriasis, and skin cancers, such as squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, as well as oral cancer.”
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms set in between 4 and 24 hours after a person last vaped. The symptoms peak around day three of abstinence and then gradually subside over the following three to four weeks.
Quitting vaping can be difficult because of nicotine addiction, and one of the biggest hurdles is managing nicotine withdrawal. The first day may be the most difficult. If you can set a routine and follow it for the rest of your effort to quit, you may see a greater chance of success.
QUITTING RESOURCES
The common misconception that nicotine relieves stress, anxiety, and depression, may be rooted in the cycle of nicotine withdrawal. Irritability, anxiety, and depression are some of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, and using nicotine relieves these symptoms temporarily.
Most people should expect to experience some of the following vaping withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, mood swings, anxiety or irritability, to start within about 24 hours of the last vape. It's important to be mentally prepared to accept vaping withdrawal symptoms and know they'll pass in a short time.
The biggest side effect of vaping nicotine is developing a nicotine addiction. Other side effects of nicotine include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. High doses of nicotine may cause tachycardia, high blood pressure, seizures, coma and death.
A study of more than 2,500 people ages 13-24 found that nicotine-only vapers, THC-only vapers and dual vapers (of nicotine and THC) were more likely to report anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts when compared with their peers who did not use electronic cigarettes or vape THC.
Stress and anxiety can trigger vape cravings, and make it harder for you to quit for good. You may be tempted to reach for your vape when you have these feelings, but vaping is not an effective way to cope.
In some states, deaths have occurred. E-cigarette aerosol inhaled deep into your lungs can contain cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals, and ultrafine particles that can harm not only your lungs but the rest of your body.
While e-cigarettes have been touted as 'healthier than real cigarettes', they can produce a brain fog as well as a literal one. Vapers are at three or four times the risk of experiencing a brain fog than those who have never used them, the study revealed.
Although the authors did not explain the underlying mechanisms of this change, they found that smoking is associated with increases in neuroticism and decrease in extroversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness parts of the NEO personality scale.
ADDICTION Chronic use of Juul and other e-cigarettes may lead to nicotine addiction. LUNG INJURIES AND RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS Vaping may cause severe lung injury and can result in cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), popcorn lung, increased cardiovascular risks and even death.
The Benefits of Quitting
Additionally, quitting vaping will improve your blood circulation and enable your lungs to begin healing. This will result in fewer coughing episodes and improved breathing ability during physical activity.
The first week, especially days 3 through 5, is always the worst. That's when the nicotine has finally cleared out of your body and you'll start getting headaches, cravings, and insomnia. Most relapses happen within the first two weeks of quitting.
1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.
According to LloydsPharmacy, vapers should quit the habit slowly by gradually cutting back. “Unlike smoking where it is advised you ideally quit all at once or go 'cold turkey' as it's known, the NHS promotes quitting vaping slowly - especially if you started vaping to help you quit smoking," he explained.
The basics of behavior change include a strong emphasis on replacement activities. Often, the hardest part about quitting vaping or smoking is finding something else that makes you feel as good as nicotine does. When you find that something, you find the ticket to a nicotine-free life.
Conclusion: Effects of vaping on weight increase is similar to smoking, but after vaping cassation weight gain is lower and comparable with nicotine nonusers.
Smoking and vaping, even in small amounts or only sometimes, can be harmful to your health while also increasing your chances of becoming addicted. Even if you're only smoking or vaping sometimes, the effects can be just as risky to your health as a daily smoking habit.