Vaping: The smoker’s switch to electronic

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E-cigarettes, also called vaping, can now be found everywhere across the country. Some look like a real cigarette, but they’re battery operated. There are different brands and different looks to the tanks. No matter the look, they all work the same. The container (tank) is filled with nicotine containing liquid with other chemicals that are flavored. When the device is heater (by the lighter), the liquid turns to vaper.

Just like the use of cigarettes, vaping can become addictive because the nicotine content. Stopping vaping can lead to feelings of withdrawl. The draw to vaping versus smoking cigarettes has to do with the chemicals. Vaping removes the need to combust anything which removes many of the chemicals that cigarettes contain. The other chemicals left for vaping have to do with flavoring. Besides nicotine, some vaping brands contain formaldehyde and another type of ingredient similar to antifreeze. Some of the flavoring chemicals are dangerous when inhaled such as diacetyl. Because e-cigarettes don’t burn there a person is not being exposed to as many toxins. Research is mixed, but some experts say that vaping is 95% safer than smoking cigarettes. This research is still controversial. Research is still being done, as well as how second-hand vaping can affect others. E-cigarrets are only about a decade old, which means long-term research has not been acquired yet. Some smokers are convinced that vaping is the lesser of the two evils, so they have quit the habit of cigarettes and have replaced it with smoking. The American Heart Association says that vaping is a last ditch resort to quit smoking.

On the other hand, there is concern that children are being exposed to vaping and will soon become addicted to nicotine. They will then graduate to cigarette use in search of a bigger kick. The trend seems to be that vaping is increasing among children, while cigarette use is decressing. The FDA does regulate vaping. A person must be over the age of 18 to purchase. No free samples are allowed. E-cigarettes are not allowed to be sold in vending machines.

Sometimes e-cigarettes can blow up from the battery overheating. The liquid nitocitne is poisonous to children. As more research is performed, the FDA will tighten and formulate restrictions as deemed necessary. The bottom line is that vaping is still bad for your health. Nicotine is toxic to the body. E-cigarettes are not approved by the FDA as cigarette smoking cessation devices despite this popular notion. Vaping is on the rise among the younger generation and without the definitive research needed, the long-term effects and risk for our youth’s health remain questionable. Getting hooked the flavors is common, but some habits aren’t worth the risks.  

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3859972/

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/more-health-concerns-surrounding-e-cigarettes

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27633766

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28970328

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Dr. Megan Johnson McCullough owns a fitness studio in Oceanside CA called Every BODY's Fit. She has a Doctorate in Health and Human Performance, M.A. in Physical Education & Health Science, and she's an NASM Master Trainer & Instructor. She's also a professional natural bodybuilder, fitness model, Wellness Coach, and AFAA Group Exercise Instructor. She has 6 books on Amazon too,.