VAPING - The “not talked about” risks of the not-so-safe alternative to smoking. It’s NOT as healthy as you were led to believe.
In the U.S., 4.5% of adults use electronic cigarettes — otherwise known as vaping — putting their health at risk of serious damage. Usage is highest among youth aged 18 to 24 years. Among this population, 11% vape.
Among high school and middle school students, cigarette use is at an all-time low. Instead, e-cigarettes — also known as vapes, pod mods and vape pens — are the most commonly used tobacco product, with more than 1 in 4 using them daily and 1 in 3 using them at least 20 of the last 30 days.
Unlike traditional smoking, vaping does not involve burning tobacco, leading many people to mistakenly believe that it’s less harmful to your health. However, vaping is associated with significant health risks to your brain, arteries, lungs and more.
Vaping refers to the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol produced by an e-cigarette or similar device. First-generation e-cigarettes are designed to look like traditional cigarettes. These devices are typically slim, small and have a glowing tip that mimics the appearance of a lit cigarette. They are usually disposable or feature replaceable cartridges that contain nicotine-laced liquid. Newer versions resemble USB flash drives and are more compact and discrete.
A popular example of this style is the Juul, which has become synonymous with the flash drive design in vaping devices. These modern devices are particularly appealing to younger users due to their sleek, discrete design. All of these devices heat a liquid — commonly called e-liquid or vape juice — that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals to create a vapor that’s inhaled.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found nearly 2,000 chemicals in e-cigarettes, many of which are unidentified. Hmmmm. What could go wrong! Among those that could be identified were caffeine, three industrial chemicals, including tributyl phosphine oxide, a pesticide and two flavorings with the potential to cause toxic effects and irritation to the respiratory tract. Swell!
Though they are being marketed as safer than cigarettes, the average vape pod contain as much nicotine as 20 cigarettes, but its e-liquid concoction is dissolved in an oily base, which poses additional risks.
"Vaping poses risks throughout your body, including to your brain, where it may negatively impact neural health."
A study on mice looked into the toxic effects of short-term e-cigarette exposure on brain function and inflammatory responses. Results showed that both cigarette smoke and e-cigarette exposure delayed the mice's ability to locate food rewards, suggesting potential damage to their sense of smell and memory functions.
The researchers concluded that e-cigarettes might have a toxicity profile similar to cigarette smoke, negatively affecting brain function. Early exposure to nicotine via vaping may also trigger long-term brain changes that influence attentional processes, potentially leading to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
According to the Surgeon General, Vaping poses risks to heart health and is linked to increases in blood pressure and arterial stiffness. This can lead to heart muscle thickening (hypertrophy) and eventually heart failure.
Using e-cigarettes shouldn’t be considered a “safe” form of smoking, as they may also put your immune system function at risk. The University of Birmingham warned that “Vaping renders immune cells unable to move to meet threats.” The effect was seen with short, low-level exposure, suggesting that even occasional e-cigarette users may be at risk.
As if that wasn’t enough, here’s more good news. Non-users around them also may be exposed to these harmful chemicals through the exhaled vapor. And the liquid can be toxic if eaten or absorbed through the skin – a poisoning risk to young children in users’ households.
E-cigarettes are sometimes marketed as a way to quit smoking, but there is not enough scientific evidence that it works. One study reported adult smokers who used e-cigarettes were 28% less likely to quit successfully.
Bottom line? If you don’t currently use tobacco, don’t try vaping because you think it’s “cool” or “safe.” There is no such thing as a risk-free tobacco product. For true health, tobacco-free is the way to be!
One suggestion I have is to look into inhalers with combinations of natural essential oils in them. They are non-toxic and the essential oils have chemicals in them that are beneficial to the body. I make inhalers for creativity, to relax, or for extra energy in addition to medicinal inhalers for colds, flu, anxiety, insomnia etc. Check out the Apothecary to order yours.
LET’S GET BETTER!
コメント