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.
Vaping versus smoking
Vaping exposes users to far fewer toxins than cigarette smoking, and vapes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, 2 of the most harmful substances in tobacco smoke.
The long-term effects of vaping are unknown but vaping has been estimated to be at least 95% less harmful than smoking. Colin Mendelsohn was a Sydney GP for 27 years with a special interest in smoking cessation and now works exclusively in tobacco treatment, helping smokers to quit.
A smoker typically puffs on a cigarette around 10-15 times before putting it out, so let's be conservative and estimate that puffing on a vape 15 times is approximately equal to smoking one cigarette. If that's the case, then a disposable vape that delivers 600 puffs is equal to about two packs of cigarettes.
Breathing in the harmful chemicals from vaping products can cause irreversible (cannot be cured) lung damage, lung disease and, in some cases, death. Some chemicals in vaping products can also cause cardiovascular disease and biological changes that are associated with cancer development.
Vaping and Popcorn Lung
Diacetyl is frequently added to flavored e-liquid to enhance the taste. Inhaling diacetyl causes inflammation and may lead to permanent scarring in the smallest branches of the airways — popcorn lung — which makes breathing difficult. Popcorn lung has no lasting treatment.
There is no real "normal," and the puffs per day don't matter. The acceptable daily intake for nicotine varies based on several modes of life and biological factors. Since the system to calculate nicotine intake per puff isn't an exact science, it's better to satisfy your needs.
But one vape can contain the equivalent of 50 cigarettes of nicotine in the one product. They also contain a complex combination of chemicals including nicotine, nickel, tin, arsenic, chlorine and lead.
Switching to vaping helps to improve your circulation, and you'll begin to experience the right levels of oxygen. As you are not used to this, you may feel a bit dizzy or lightheaded to start with. Your brain has been deprived of oxygen, and this is it readjusting to the level of oxygen it needs.
Nicotine Content in E-Liquids. One reason you could be vaping more than you smoked is because you aren't using the best nicotine strength for your preferences. E-liquids come in a variety of different strengths and go up to 20 mg/ml in the UK.
Although the precise long term risks of vaping nicotine have not yet been established they are certain to be only a tiny fraction of those from smoking, which kills prematurely up to 2 in 3 long-term users. Based on this information, the estimate that vaping is 95% safer than smoker is a very reasonable guide.
Vaping is a way to quit cigarettes by getting nicotine with fewer of the toxins that come from burning tobacco. You get to stay social, spend less, and once you've quit smoking you'll feel better for it. Although vaping's much less harmful than smoking, it's not harmless.
If You've Vaped Too Much...
The most common and least serious situation is being nauseous or having a headache after vaping too much. Usually, if you stop vaping you'll feel better soon. It is key, though, to stop as soon as you feel any symptoms - if you try and power through it you'll only feel worse.
One of the main ingredients in vape juice is propylene glycol (PG), which is safe to eat and inhale but when used orally breaks down into acids that damage enamel, and propionaldehyde, which irritates soft tissue. PG also causes dry mouth, taking away essential saliva, leading to cavities and gum disease.
The lung damage he has seen in patients is the equivalent to someone smoking cigarettes for decades. "It literally can kill you the first time you try it," he says.
A 1oz/30ml bottle of e-liquid contains about 600 drops (30 * 20 drops/ml) which would theoretically give you about 6000 puffs. Approximately 10 puffs is equivalent to 1 cigarette. Therefore, there are roughly 600 cigarettes per 30ml e-liquid container.
How many cigarettes are in 3500 puffs? One 3500 puff vape contains roughly 280 cigarettes worth of nicotine.
The answer isn't so straightforward. There is no real "normal," and the puffs per day don't matter. The acceptable daily intake for nicotine varies based on several modes of life and biological factors. Since the system to calculate nicotine intake per puff isn't an exact science, it's better to satisfy your needs.
Generally, 15 to 30 seconds are enough before you take another hit, but you can wait longer, especially if you are experiencing dry hits more often. It can be hard to get used to, especially if you're previously a smoker which doesn't require you to wait for anything.
There should be no gap between the lips and the mouthpiece; if there is the vapour won't be taken into the mouth correctly. Take a slow, steady draw from your vape pen for around 3-5 seconds, depending on preference.
What is popcorn lung? Popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans) is an uncommon type of lung disease, but it is not cancer. It's caused by a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs, which blocks the flow of air. A possible link has been suggested between the disease and a chemical called diacetyl.
Benefits of vaping
Vaping can help some people quit smoking. Vaping is usually cheaper than smoking. Vaping is not harmless, but it is much less harmful than smoking. Vaping is less harmful to those around you than smoking, as there's no current evidence that second-hand vapour is dangerous to others.