Have you been walking down the high street and suddenly catch an overpowering whiff of watermelon? Then you’ve most likely found yourself walking behind a vaper. There’s no doubt that this habit has taken off in popularity within the UK. Nightclub smoking areas smell like a fruit salad, and the high streets are full of people puffing on a vape. It begs one to wonder if vaping is bad for you, is it better than smoking or is it just as bad? We are here to investigate this increasingly popular habit to see if it really is worth the few seconds of joy it may give you.
What is vaping?
Vaping is the use of an e-cigarette instead of smoking. It allows you to inhale vapour rather than smoke, which is often fruit-flavoured. They contain an “e-liquid” that usually has nicotine, vegetable glycerine, flavourings, and propylene in it.
E-cigarettes are often used to help people quit smoking as they still contain the highly addictive substance – nicotine.
Is vaping better than smoking?
Vaping is known to be one of the most effective ways to help people quit smoking, it can help banish those nicotine cravings without having to inhale all the other nasties that come with tobacco cigarettes. That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily good for you though. Nicotine is an incredibly addictive substance that can increase your risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders.
So, if you are a smoker, there are definitely benefits to switching over to an e-cigarette. When you burn tobacco you are releasing carbon monoxide and tar, which are very damaging elements to your body. By vaping, you are cutting these toxic elements out. You might also find that vaping is a fair bit cheaper than smoking, with people reporting that vaping costs half as much as tobacco cigarettes.
You might still be wondering, that’s all great but what’s the catch? Does vaping have side effects too?
Vaping side effects
If you’re sitting with your kiwi flavoured air stick wondering, can vaping give me headaches, does it have bad side effects? With all that glycerine, is vaping bad for your teeth? Then this part is for you. Because let’s be honest the only thing that should be going into your lungs is air. So, of course, there will be some side effects to this controversial habit.
You may find that if you vape regularly, you’ll get a dry mouth and even a dry tickly throat. Some people may even experience some nausea, and yes, headaches are on the list too. Nicotine is also known to be quite bad for your teeth, with risks of developing tooth decay and reducing the blood supply to your gums. If your vape liquid is flavoured and contains sugar, then you are also increasing your risk of cavities in your teeth. Because vaping is a fairly new concept, the long-term side effects are still unknown.
How to quit vaping
Whether you have started vaping to quit smoking or if you have decided to take up the bad habit, you need to recognise the signs of a vape addiction. It’s a great method to help you quit smoking, but you should always plan how to stop vaping too, as no level of nicotine is good for you. It is recommended that if you don’t already smoke, try not to start vaping.
There are lots of ways to get you on track for quitting completely. Start by having a look at why you might be vaping. If you find it as a way to de-stress, have a look into what might be causing you stress and try to combat this. There are several ways you can relax, for example, The Relax Capsules have all the best ingredients for a great night’s sleep and reduced stress they can help ease those stressful feelings that might be driving you to unhealthy habits.
Try to distract yourself whenever you may feel a craving coming on, take a moment to busy yourself with something. If you are driving, turn up the radio and have a sing-along. If you’re at home, maybe find a project you’ve been putting off – c’mon we all have them. Make sure that you aren’t just sitting and dwelling on what you are craving.
Another great way to distract yourself is to keep exercising. The best way to crush through a craving is to increase your physical activity. If you have a particular passion such as running, or swimming, try and spend more time doing these. Aerobic exercises are the best as they help to reduce the severity of your nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
Summary
Don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments. If you go a day without vaping, recognise this and celebrate it. There are always people around to help you if you are struggling with an addiction. Please don’t hesitate to seek help from the NHS to quit smoking and vaping.
So, whenever you feel a craving for that sweet watermelon air, take a moment to remember how far you’ve come, and how damaging it can be for your teeth and gums. Get your gym kit on and start moving! More importantly, don’t forget that you CAN do this! We believe in you, keep up the good work!
