Smoking vs. Vaping
Nowadays, more and more people in Chicago are split between smoking and vaping. Given that every vaping discussion almost automatically sparks a comparison to smoking – this subject is slowly but surely getting more and more traction as time goes by.
This is mainly because most vapers had been smokers once upon a time — in fact, if it weren’t for vaping, the majority of vapers would probably still be smokers at the end of the day.
Plus, if vaping manages to hold on in spite of the countless challenges in the upcoming years, millions of traditional tobacco users would switch from high-risk combustible cigarettes to low-risk nicotine replacements in no time.
However, the science is just not there yet to fully and thoroughly compare the pros and cons of vaping and smoking. Most of the studies on this subject are funded either by the major tobacco industries or by those who want to regulate and control nicotine use. Between these two extremes, vaping finds itself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
If a scientific study compares the number of carcinogenic compounds in smoke and vapor, the results will be clear: smoke is by far the unhealthier alternative of the two. But, if you compare vapor to clean, natural air, this comparison will not make vapor look any bit ideal to say the least.
So, the question we should ask is: Are e-cigarettes really healthier than tobacco cigarettes? Read more to find out.
Traditional Smoking Can Cause Cancer
Cancer forms when carcinogenic compounds cause a mutation in the DNA of the cells, resulting in abnormal growths that can spiral out of control. In comparison, a tumor can remain locked down, but cancer cells can spread all throughout the body and even hop over from one organ to another.
More: Can hypnosis help me stop smoking?
Additionally, most of you are probably aware that traditional smoking strongly correlates with lung cancer. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, where the majority of smokers (not all) are being affected by this form of cancer.
And not only that, but smoking can become the leading cause of the formation of other cancers too, since cancers can form even in body areas that have little to no contact with tobacco smoke. In fact, lightning up a combustible cigarette regularly can lead to the forming of cancer almost anywhere in the body, including:
- Blood
- Cervix
- Esophagus
- Trachea
- Bladder
- Liver
- Larynx
- Pancreas
- Lungs
- Mouth
- Throat
- And other organs
The major takeaway here is that nicotine by itself – either found in e-cigarettes or traditional cigarettes – hasn’t been shown to be causing cancer on its own. In addition, a 2016 report from the Royal College of Physicians (RPC) has found no direct link between nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) and lung cancer, other cancers, or even cardiovascular disease.
This is strong evidence that electronic cigarettes are far safer than combustible cigarettes over the long haul.
Smoking is Also Linked to Heart Disease and Stroke
According to the Surgeon General, smoking combustible cigarettes causes one third of all cardiovascular-disease-related deaths in the United States every year. The majority of these deaths occur from heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, stroke, and several other conditions that are either caused or made worse by tobacco use.
The most important point here is that nicotine is not the primary reason for acute cardiovascular incidents. In the paper, the Surgeon General concludes that given the existing evidence, nicotine is not the main reason for increasing the risk of death from myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke.
Additionally, the paper suggests that some of the other chemical components found in smoke are in actuality more important in evaluating the risks of either of these diseases and their lethal rate. Some of these compounds include oxidant chemicals, carbon monoxide, free radicals, and more.
In all truth however, some of these chemicals can definitely be found in vapor from e-cigarettes, but in significantly lower concentrations than in tobacco-induced smoke.
Fine and Ultrafine Particles in Smoke vs Vapor
Another important issue that men often get mixed-up about vaping involves the so-called “ultrafine” and “fine” particles found both in cigarette smoke and e-cigarette vapor. One of the loudest anti-smoking (now anti-vaping as well) proponents of this point is none other than Stanton Glantz. He claims that these ultrafine particles are dangerous regardless if they’re inhaled via tobacco smoke or electronic cigarette vapor.
This would’ve been fine, but it seems that Mr. Glantz is forgetting one major point: these particles are found in their liquid form in e-cigarette vapor – as opposed to solid combustion products found in traditional cigarette smoke or even diesel exhausts. Having a mechanical engineering background, it would seem that Mr. Glantz would know the difference between solids and liquids, but his claims tell otherwise.
To date, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that vaping could potentially cause cardiovascular disease.
Cigarette Smokers Suffer from a Number of Lung Diseases
Men who often reach out for cigarettes have a higher risk of developing one or more lung diseases, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and non-reversible asthma). These conditions are absolutely devastating for a man’s health, since they lead to some irreversible symptoms and can leave you gasping for air in the most dangerous way possible.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco smoke can absolutely devastate your lungs in the following ways:
- The alveoli (tiny pockets of air) and airways lose their ability to shrink and stretch
- The walls which support the alveoli are damaged significantly
- The airway walls become inflamed and swollen
- The airways are blocked by too much mucus, which impairs the ability to breathe
Additionally, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is progressive, which means that it continues to develop even after you’ve possibly quit smoking cigarettes. Plus, the lungs try to mitigate the incoming smoke by producing mucus.
However, if you smoke one pack of cigarettes a day, then the amount of smoke overwhelms the lungs and eventually leads to the overproduction of mucus. This newly-formed mucus blocks the airways and can cause additional damage to the lungs – and consequently – your whole body.
Finally, there is no evidence to suggest that vaping can produce the same risks associated with tobacco smoke. In fact, the evidence points to the contrary: switching from cigarettes to electronic cigarettes can reverse these symptoms to some extent, as it is confirmed by the following study.
If you or anyone you know are interested in making the positive change from smoking to vaping, then we encourage you to do your homework. Visit different vaping websites to learn more about their products. An excellent one to consider is Vaper Empire. What’s interesting about the site is how they have a section that speaks to why a person might choose to vape over smoking.
In a perfect world, you would be able to stop smoking without the need for nicotine replacement therapy, like patches, gum or vaping devices. But we all know the world is not perfect. That’s why it’s important to make choices that are right for your situation.
Thanks for stopping by.
