Is vaping worse than smoking? (2024)

Is vaping worse than smoking? In other words, are fumes worse than cigarettes? These are important questions as vaping has become a popular alternative to smoking and marketing is more aimed at young people.

Cigarettes and e-cigarettes, or vaping, contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that makes it difficult for users to stop once they start, resulting in a crash or withdrawal symptoms when that nicotine craving isn't met.

This chemical compound can also disrupt brain development in people under 25, affecting the parts of the brain that control learning, mood control, attention and impulse control. In addition, it can be associated with drug use - and possiblydrug abuse- issues. According to an analysis of several studies, published inJAMA Pediatrics, the likelihood of marijuana use is higher among young people who use e-cigarettes.

To study the effects of vaping vs. smoking and the question "Which is worse, cigarettes or vaping?", we spoke to Jennifer Acker, a Certified Master Addiction Counselor and Clinical Director at Embark Behavioral Healthpharmacy and Atlanta, Georgia.

5 signs your teen is vaping

If you're concerned about your teen, there are a few different signs to look out for in your teenarms. They contain:

1. Sweet-smelling residue: You may notice sweet smells in your home for short periods.

2. Empty cartridges and vape pen: You may find unusual cartridges or vape pens in your home.

3. Excessive Drinking Water:Vaping causes the mouth and throat to dry out more often than usual, so your teen may reach for water more often.

4. Persistent cough: Your teen may have a persistent cough that doesn't seem to go away with medication or home remedies.

5. Batteries and chargers lying around: You may discover too many batteries and chargers in your teen's room or in their backpack or purse.

Physical health risks of smoking

To investigate the question "Is vaping or smoking worse?", it is useful to first consider how cigarettes affect the body. Research has shown that smoking can lead to physical health risks with long-term effects, such as cancer, which can be deadly. Other dangers include heart disease, asthma and high blood pressure.

Cancer

According toCancer Research UK, at least 70 chemicals in cigarettes can cause cancer because the chemicals can damage the parts of DNA that protect us from the disease - and the more cigarettes a person smokes a day, the greater the risk.

Heart disease

Smoking can lead to heart disease due to the chemicals released in the body. According toCenter for Disease Control and Prevention, the chemicals in cigarette smoke can inflame the cells in blood vessels and narrow them, leading to cardiovascular disease, which can be fatal.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes a person's airways sensitive and reactive to specific triggers, depending on the person and the severity of their asthma. According toCleveland clinic, tobacco smoke is a potent trigger, and those who smoke while they have asthma are known to have worsening symptoms.

High bloodpressure

Smoking is known to increase blood pressure every time someone has a cigarette. This is because when someone smokes, they activate their sympathetic nervous system, which triggers a person's fight-or-flight response.

Mental health risks of smoking

When it comes to smoking and mental health, there are some dangers and they can put a strain on your teen's relationships and work or school life.

The dangers are anxiety, stress, tension and depression.

Angst

Can Nicotine Cause Anxiety? Because nicotine is a stimulant and stimulants activate the central nervous system, it can cause feelings of anxietyangstor being tense because the central nervous system is in high gear, Acker said.

Spanning

There is a relationship between thatspanningand smoking. According to Acker, nicotine activates the pleasure pathway and the release of dopamine in the brain. The release can lead to an obsession or addiction to nicotine, which can leave a person stressed about getting more of this addictive substance.

spanning

Smokers may experience tension when they are busy getting more nicotine or finding time for another smoking break. They may also experience physical tension and discomfort from withdrawal symptoms.

Depression

Can Nicotine Cause Depression? There is a link between smoking and this serious psychological problem.

"With every stimulus, there is a crash," Acker said. "So for someone who might be struggling with depression, that breakdown could lead to more depressive symptoms and needing the cycle of more nicotine."

According to Acker, people may also turn to stimulants like nicotine if they suffer from depression or depressive symptoms because they help them feel good.

Physical health risks of vaping

When exploring the question "Which is worse, vaping or smoking?", it is important to consider how vaping affects the body. Note: Not everyone who vapes realizes they are inhaling nicotine. According to the latterTruth Initiative-studie, 63% percent of JUUL users do not know that these e-cigarettes contain this drug. And according to the study, a JUUL cartridge can contain as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. This can be a serious problem.

"When we get into the higher nicotine concentrations, we start to get something that we didn't see with cigarettes, which is nicotine poisoning," Acker said.

As a result, vape users can develop multiple conditions with long-term consequences.

Lung damage/burns

In 2019, the term EVALI was coined in response to an increasing number of cases of severe lung disease caused by e-cigarettes and vaping, according toAmerican Lung Association. EVALI stands for e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury. The association shared that of reported EVALI cases, 96% of patients required hospitalization and some died.

High bloodpressure

Can vaping cause high blood pressure? A study insideDiary of hypertensionfound that vaping can be associated with a significant increase in blood pressure that lasts for about 30 minutes at a time. High blood pressure can be a problem because it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Lung disease

Vaping and lung disease have become a topic of interest for researchers and concerned parents alike. For example, in a report inNew England Journal of Medicinelooking at lung disease related to e-cigarette use, the authors noted that research has linked acute interstitial lung disease to vaping and e-cigarette use. This type of lung disease can cause scarring of the lungs, which can make breathing difficult.

Other lung diseases associated with vaping include popcorn lung and asthma.

Popcorn outage

Does Vaping Cause Popcorn Lung? Also known as bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), this rare condition occurs when there is damage to the small airways in the lungs. According toHopkins DrugWhen a person inhales diacetyl, a buttery-flavored yellow liquid often added to vape juice or e-liquids, they can experience inflammation and even permanent scarring of the lungs that make breathing difficult.

Asthma

Is vaping bad for asthma? According to an article inAmerican journal of preventive medicine, e-cigarette use is a risk factor for respiratory diseases, including asthma. In a study in the journalrespiratoryologists, the authors reported that some studies have shown that e-cigarette smoking increases asthma symptoms and severity.

Cardiovascular disease

The risk of cardiovascular disease from vaping is not known, according toheart diary, but vaping has been studied and associated with known risk factors such as inflammation and thrombosis, which is when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel.

Mental health risks of vaping

How Can Vaping Affect Your Teen's Mental Health? It can lead to the same problems as if they were smoking cigarettes or even exacerbate these problems because the concentration of nicotine is higher when you vape, and it can cause more serious effects, Acker said.

Angst

Can Vaping Cause Anxiety? As with cigarette smoking, vaping can be a problem because nicotine is a stimulant and can cause anxiety as the central nervous system kicks into high gear.

Depression

Vaping and depression were linked in a study published byJAMA network. As of 2016-2017, people who vape were more likely to report a history of clinical diagnosis of depression. According to Acker, people will turn to stimulants, such as nicotine, to feel good, and those who struggle with depression ordepressive symptomswill turn into a stimulating activity like vaping to give them temporary relief.

Stress and tension

Does vaping cause stress? According to Acker, one way to imagine the amount of nicotine in e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes is to compare them to cups of coffee. She described cigarettes as one cup of coffee and vaping as six cups. The higher concentration of nicotine in vaping can help people develop a tolerance to nicotine much more quickly. This can cause stress and tension as they are constantly trying to maintain their fitness level.

6 ways to help your teen quit vaping

Teen vaping has become a concern, but you can help your child break the habit. According to Acker, the best place to start is to understand why your teen started vaping, rather than shaming them into quitting.

"The most important thing a parent can do once they've discovered their teen is vaping is to figure out what motivated the use and how the teen can meet that need in a healthier way," she said.

1. Talk to your teen about vaping

When it's time to talk to teens about vaping, Acker suggested that parents get together with their teens and talk about the risks of vaping use. You can discuss the physical and mental health risks mentioned above.

2. Prepare your teen for withdrawal

To help your teen cope with withdrawal when they stop vaping, Acker suggested that you first become familiar with what nicotine withdrawal symptoms look like. They include feeling hungry, being irritable and having trouble sleeping. Then if your teen experiences symptoms, you can explain that they are temporary and lead him to activities that can distract or help him. For example, if a teen is more hungry than usual, encourage them to eat healthy snacks instead of junk foodgood nutritionis an important part of recovery from withdrawal.

3. Manage the triggers

Identifying what drives teens to vape can go a long way in helping a teen struggling to quit vaping. Once you know why your child engages in this habit, you can help him make a plan to manage his triggers. This plan may include written reminders not to vape in these situations and a list of activities they can do instead.

4. Encourage your teen to practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is a great way for your teen to be aware of their surroundings, triggers, and reasons for vaping. Acker suggested encouraging your teen to practice breathing exercises so they stay present and aware of their desires.

5. See therapy for concurrent problems

"Looking at therapy goes back to understanding your teen's motivation for vaping," Acker said. "Vaping nicotine can be viewed as a coping mechanism for depression, anxiety, or even an eating disorder." Therapy can treat the concurrent problems that vaping masks.

6. Be patient with hen

Patience is key to helping your teen quit vaping. Withdrawal symptoms will set in and family and friends involved in the withdrawal process will become annoyed or frustrated with the process, but patience and cooperation can help your child break this troubling habit.

Vaping vs Smoking wrap

Vaping by teens can be alarming to parents. After all, vapes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. While trying to help your teen, Acker suggested that you go with them instead of going to understand their world and the role vaping plays in it. This way you can best support them when stopping.

As for the question "Is vaping worse than smoking?" While there is some evidence that vaping should be avoided because it contains chemicals, heavy metals and water vapor that can damage the lungs, researchers are still investigating whether e-cigarettes are worse than smoking, according to Acker. standard cigarettes.

"There's been a lot of research on the long-term health effects of smoking a cigarette, but we don't know the long-term health effects of vaping e-cigarettes," Acker said.

Embark is the most trusted name in adolescent and young adult mental health care. We are driven to find the help your family needs. If you are looking for support,contact us today!