The truth about vaping is still very much up in the air, as the studies haven’t been able to run for long enough to be conclusive. This said, there are many things which have demonstrated that vaping is far from benign. It might be healthier than smoking. But it might also be far, far worse. We just don’t know.
Vaping’s full consequences are still unknown
A recent study found that smoking cigarettes decreases the gene expression of 53 genes that play a part in fighting viruses and bacteria. Vaping affects an astonishing 358 of them. What’s scary is that we have no idea what this actually means yet.
Vaping will affect your breath
Vape contains propylene glycol and nicotine, both of which remove moisture and stop saliva from being able to wash away bacteria associated with halitosis. The nicotine also restricts blood flow throughout your body, your gums included. This increases the risk of developing gingivitis and periodontitis.
Vaping has been linked to hair loss
Nicotine increases blood pressure and restricts blood vessels in your scalp. Hair follicles are deprived of the necessary nourishment needed to grow healthy hair. Vaping has been found to directly affect the epithelial cells which play a key role in healthy hair growth.
Vaping has sadly reversed the decline in nicotine usage amongst the youth
Nicotine use amongst teenagers were on the decline in recent years. Sadly, due to e-cigarettes, it’s now increasing once again.
Vaping poses a serious risk to teenagers
The teen brain is extremely receptive to the effects of nicotine. Those who start early have deeper addictions and more difficulty quitting. Vaping’s flavours, e-cigarette design and ‘clouding’ culture are all brilliantly designed to appeal to teenagers.
Vaping is linked to erectile disfunction
The nicotine in vape juices is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to your extremities, including the penis. The higher the intensity of nicotine intake, the greater the degree of erectile dysfunction. Prolonged, heavy use can cause permanent blood-vessel damage.
Second-hand vape is dangerous to everyone
The exhaled aerosol clouds contain cancer-causing chemicals like aldehydes, which puts everyone around you at risk. Vapers also leave residual nicotine on indoor surfaces. These can lead to third-hand exposure through the skin, inhalation and ingestion, long after the aerosol has cleared the room.
Vaping poses a serious risk of poisoning in households with young children
Vape juices are highly concentrated mixtures of chemicals and dangerous amounts of nicotine, which also largely have flavours which appeal to kids’ palettes. This makes them a substantial poisoning risk in your household.
Vaping will cause skin dryness and saggy skin
Vape juice contains propylene glycol which attracts and traps water away from your skin. Most vape juices contain nicotine, which restricts the veins, causing less blood flow to the skin. This starves the skin of nutrients it needs to stay healthy, drying it out and causing it to wrinkle and get saggy.
Vaping will damage your oral health
Vaping can cause irreversible damage to your mouth and gums due to the chemicals in the vape juice. Oral inflammation can occur as a result of oxidative stress, as well as increase the potential for oral diseases.
Vaping is likely to give you cancer
Vape juices are filled with a variety of solvents like propylene glycol and glycerine. As well as metallic particles like chromium, cadmium and lead. When heat is applied to them, they form new unknown compounds, which are likely to be aldehydes.
Aldehydes are known to cause cancer.
Vape clouds are aerosols, not water vapour
Vape juices are filled with a variety of chemicals, which compound when exposed to heat and turn into an aerosol, not water vapour, which many people think they’re exhaling. So, that big cloud you’re exhaling is a combination of unknown chemical compounds, as every vape juice contains different, and largely unregulated elements.
For more information on the Risks of Vaping, please refer to “The electronic cigarettes debate” by Dr. Richard Van Zyl-Smit, Division of Pulmonology and Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/7435/5509