After the invention of the e-Cigarette in 2003, vaping has quickly taken over the smoking scene, with more smokers turning to vape products each year. Like with any new product on the market, vaping became increasingly popular, mostly because it was marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional smoking. Now that more research has been conducted on the long-term effects of vaping, we can better understand the comparison between vaping vs smoking, along with which is healthier for you. First, you have to understand how vaping and smoking interact with the body and the studied long-term effects of each. Making an informed decision can be confusing, so read on to understand the pros and cons of vaping vs smoking.
What is Vaping
Vaping or using an electronic cigarette is different from smoking. Instead of using combustion to light tobacco or marijuana on fire to then inhale the smoke, vaping doesn’t use traditional tobacco or marijuana at all. Instead, when you vape, you’re heating an oil infused with nicotine, THC, and other flavors. Vaping uses a heating coil that heats the oil and turns it into a vapor that you inhale. It’s important to note that vaping has only been around for 18 years where cigarettes have been in circulation since the 9th century. Because of this, we’re still learning the long-term effects of vaping vs smoking.
There are plenty of examples of vaping devices such as e-cigarettes, JUUL, and vape pens. Vaping devices are as plentiful and unique as cigarette brands at this point. You can purchase them from convenience stores, headshops, vape shops, and more. It’s common for vape juices and e-cigarettes to come in a multitude of colors and flavors, regardless of whether the vape product is used for nicotine or THC. You may have heard that vaping is better for your health than smoking, but it does come with its own set of risks.
Vaping vs Smoking
Vaping was originally created to help smokers stop smoking. The main difference between vaping and smoking revolves around how the nicotine or THC is ingested. With smoking, you ingest either substance through inhaling smoke, which is where most of the harmful contaminants are found. With vaping, the nicotine or THC is ingested through inhaling vapor, which is said to be less harmful than smoking.
Most vape juices are made from Propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and food grade flavoring. The Propylene glycol creates a sensation in the throat, similar to smoking. If you’re a smoker and want to switch to vaping to support your effort to stop smoking, you can reduce your risks by a considerable amount. This is because vaping exposes you to fewer toxins than smoking cigarettes. But if you’re a non smoker who picked up vaping, there are risks.
While the risks associated with vaping vs smoking long-term aren’t yet known, we do know that according to research conducted by Public Health England, they are still working to quantify the probability of cardiovascular and lung disease associated with vaping, but they do know the risk should be lower than traditional smoking. The risk of cancer is also thought to be less than smoking, as well. With this in mind, you still have a small risk of cardiovascular disease and lung damage when you vape.
THC vs e-Cigarettes
THC vapes and e-cigarettes are often lumped together under the same category, but it’s unfair to compare the two. According to the National Library of Medicine, nicotine is highly addictive and comes with several more risks than THC. Frequently consuming nicotine can lead to cardiovascular disease, respiratory issues, and gastrointestinal problems. It also poses an issue for reproductive health and immune response. THC, on the other hand, has significantly lower risks than vaping Nicotine. In addition, THC is known to reduce inflammation and pain by working with the body’s endocannabinoid system located throughout the body.
Annual Cost Comparison
By now, it’s clear there are many differences between vaping and smoking, not only for your health but for your budget too. Smoking a pack of cigarettes a day can cost you anywhere from $2,087.80 to $5,091.75, depending on what brand of cigarettes you purchase. Vaping, on the other hand, will cost you anywhere from $387.75 to $5,082.50. With this in mind, you could save over 90 percent by switching to vaping.
Final Thoughts on Vaping vs Smoking
The bottom line is that smoking is less safe than vaping and arguably more expensive. Smoking kills nearly six million people a year and second hand smoke kills 600,000 people a year. Traditional smoking exposes you to thousands of harmful chemicals like tar and other carcinogens that can damage your teeth, lungs, and heart. Vaping only exposes you to a handful of ingredients with less risk of developing common diseases associated with traditional smoking.