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A Look at What We Know about the Actual Health Risks of Vaping

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We're told that e-cigarettes are safer than smoking, but what are the actual health risks of vaping?

We're starting to learn a lot more about vaping and how it affects the human body, thanks to a growing amount of medical research in recent years, much of it from British institutions that are opening up whole new insights into e-cigarettes and their use. And let's not forget that vaping is a relatively new phenomenon, both here in the UK and around the world. While e-cigarettes and other vape gear started to appear in the UK market way back in 2007, it's only really in the last few years that they have caught on with the public. Now, there are an estimated 3.2 million vapers around the UK, many of whom are former smokers and used e-cigs to finally kick their unhealthy habit. But in recent times, all sorts of fears have existed about e-cigarettes, primarily because we didn't know all that much about them and how the e-liquid they use affects the body. Many feared that e-cigarettes would lead to a whole new generation eventually taking up smoking, because they believed — and some still do — that e-cigs are a "gateway to smoking". That and other worries have thankfully not materialised, as we shall see in this blog on the actual health risks of vaping.

The Truth about Nicotine

E-liquid — the substance usually found in replaceable cartridges in e-cigarettes, which is heated by a battery to produce vapour — often, but not always, contains nicotine, as well as a flavour. Because of this, some people are concerned. But it turns out that nicotine, while highly addictive, is almost entirely harmless, and especially compared to what's found in burning tobacco. Most of us know that cigarette smoke kills — around 100,000 people in the UK every year, and seven million around the world — but exactly what's in it might shock you. These are just some of the toxic chemicals given off by burning tobacco, and we now know that at least 70 of them cause various cancers in the human body:  

DEADLY SMOKE

Hydrogen cyanide Formaldehyde Lead Arsenic Ammonia Radioactive elements, including uranium Benzene Carbon monoxide

  As Professor of Tobacco Addiction at King’s College London Ann McNeill has said: "People smoke for the nicotine, but contrary to what the vast majority believe, nicotine causes little if any of the harm. The toxic smoke is the culprit and is the overwhelming cause of all the tobacco-related disease and death. There are now a greater variety of alternative ways of getting nicotine than ever before, including nicotine gum, nasal spray, lozenges and e-cigarettes."

So Are There Actual Health Risks with Vaping?

In an attempt to find out if there are any long-term health risks with vaping, a group of Dutch researchers studied people using e-cigarettes over a two-year period and monitored their health throughout. The results, published in the journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology earlier this year, showed that the participating vapers' health had not been negatively impacted in any way. It's studies like these that are prompting more health authorities around the world to advise smokers to switch to vaping and get healthier. They can get the nicotine they want, but without any of the harmful elements in tobacco smoke; and they can gradually reduce the amount of nicotine in their e-liquid refills until they're vaping with none and just enjoying the many flavours now available. "Thousands of people in England have already stopped smoking with the help of an e-cigarette. Plus, those who combine an e-cigarette with help from their local Stop Smoking Service have a high chance of success. In 2017-18, two-thirds of smokers who did so managed to stop smoking," said this year's Stoptober stop-smoking campaign run by the NHS. And with Public Health England telling us that vaping is not a gateway to smoking, but from it, and is “at least 95% safer” than smoking, the health-risk message is now abundantly clear: smokers should switch to vaping immediately to save their health. If you're planning to give up cigarettes by taking up vaping instead, Electric Tobacconist has great e-cigarette starter kits that are simple to use and cost little. Plus, they will last you ages. Have a look at our top brands now and soon you could be saying goodbye to the hazards of smoking forever!

By Chris Pearse

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