You may be tempted to reach for your vape when you are feeling down, but vaping is not an effective way to cope with sadness or depression.
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.
Currently, it is believed that the nicotine in vape products affects the brain's ability to produce a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine plays a significant role in motivating us to perform certain activities. It is released into the brain when a pleasurable activity is performed.
Though they may be looking to nicotine for relief, many young people are unaware that vaping may make their symptoms worse. The common misconception that nicotine relieves stress, anxiety, and depression, may be rooted in the cycle of nicotine withdrawal.
Vaping is often used as a coping strategy by individuals suffering from depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions. However, it could potentially worsen the existing mental health conditions. Nicotine interrupts the cerebral dopamine pathway leading to an increase in depressive symptoms.
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. There are healthy and effective ways to deal with stress and anxiety.
These data suggest that, while nicotine might affect the release as well as the uptake of serotonin, there is no effect on the serotonin content within the FC and STR.
In the short-term, vaping nicotine may feel good by stimulating production of the “feel good” chemical in the brain called dopamine which can create feelings of pleasure and relaxation. Vaping nicotine also creates social opportunities to connect with other people and provides a distraction from stressful situations.
Vapers are at three or four times the risk of experiencing a brain fog than those who have never used them, the study revealed. Dr Dongmei Li, study co-author, said: “Our studies add to growing evidence that vaping should not be considered a safe alternative to tobacco smoking.”
Smoking, anxiety and mood
Most smokers say they want to stop, but some continue because smoking seems to relieve stress and anxiety. It's a common belief that smoking helps you relax. But smoking actually increases anxiety and tension. Smokers are also more likely than non-smokers to develop depression over time.
Smoking and depression
Nicotine stimulates the release of the chemical dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is involved in triggering positive feelings. It is often found to be low in people with depression, who may then use cigarettes to temporarily increase their dopamine supply.
What vaping does do is efficiently deliver nicotine, a highly addictive stimulant. Collins says nicotine is complex, “like hopped-up caffeine” that also has calming effects.
Smokers cite numerous reasons for starting vaping, these include: to ease nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms; to quit smoking or avoid relapse; to use e-cigarettes where smoking is prohibited; reduce cost; and the belief that e-cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco [8,9,10,11].
self medication: nicotine has central antidepressant properties and depressed patients could be using it as a form of selfmedication to relieve symptoms. Nicotine releases dopamine in the mesolimbic reward pathway, elevating mood and improving wellbeing.
We found that inhaled EC vape triggered neurotoxicity that induces brain inflammatory effects similar to those observed in the CS-exposed group. We posit that these toxicological effects are associated with decreased cognitive spatial and memory functions of EC and CS as compared to control mice.
Nicotine consumed through vaping can cause hair loss and damage other areas of your body by constricting your blood vessels and hindering circulation; in doing so, vaping prevents nutrients in your blood from reaching your cells (especially your hair follicles, which require these much-needed nutrients to thrive and to ...
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.
Although not as damaging to your health as smoking tobacco, nicotine in any form can disrupt your sleep. E-cigarettes (vapes), patches and nicotine gum are a safer alternative to cigarettes but they're still likely to spoil your sleep. Nicotine is a nightmare when it comes to restful nights.
When chronically taken, nicotine may result in: (1) positive reinforcement, (2) negative reinforcement, (3) reduction of body weight, (4) enhancement of performance, and protection against; (5) Parkinson's disease (6) Tourette's disease (7) Alzheimers disease, (8) ulcerative colitis and (9) sleep apnea.
Most smokers will cough the first time they try vaping. When people first start out, they inhale their vape like they would a cigarette. The vapour can feel 'thicker' than cigarette smoke and this can trigger a cough from the change in sensation.
In this study, with a several month-long exposure to nicotine via E-CIG vapor inhalation, we found reduced dopamine concentrations in the STR, but not in the FC.
The common misconception of e-cigarettes as a stress reliever could 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.
Nicotine is a stimulant, which may have properties similar to stimulant medications (e.g., Ritalin) used to treat ADHD. Nicotine may increase attention and reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and, thus, may regulate behavior in individuals with ADHD.
Some people take up vaping – or inhaling vapor from electronic cigarettes – to avoid the health hazards of smoking cigarettes made with tobacco. But when it comes to your heart health, a pair of recent studies show e-cigarettes are just as dangerous – and possibly are even more dangerous – than traditional cigarettes.