Is Vaping a lot more safe than cigarettes?

[Isitanybetter]

I'm ignorant about this, but is vaping definitely much more safe than cigarette smoking? Are there any good recent studies?

I remember the "popcorn lung" side effect was debunked as not to do with vaping a few years ago, and it seemed like it was nowhere near as damaging as cigarettes. Is this still a general consensus?

Millions of the cheap disposable vapes and fluids being imported are not tested and we have no idea what is in them.

It will take 20-30 years to know the extent of the dangers.

Vapers are basically guinea pigs.

It's not been around long enough for a full scientific study of good v bad but it can't be good as you are ingesting chemicals.
Think of it this way, many years ago before they knew cigarettes were cancerous children would smoke, no advertising restrictions and doctors would walk into a ward or a house and wave the smoke around as it was 'medicinal' and tell people smoking was healthy, now we obviously know that is not the case.
I think it's only a matter of time before we see the side effects this will have on peoples bodies and it definitely won't be good

Also noone can guarantee what is in the majority of vapes out there as they are unregulated and so many knock off types floating about. It could contain literally anything. Either way it could be better than cigarettes but could never be described as good as its still chemicals at the end of the day

Vaping used to be breathing in water vapour, but now it is sucking flavoured oil directly into the lungs. I don't know about studies directly comparing it to smoking, I think it's still early days, but the ramifications especially to young people of having oil deposits built up in their lungs I predict are going to be pretty horrific.

Epidemiologist here. This is such a depressing thread to read. Vaping is so much safer than smoking. Sad to see the message hadn’t got through.

If I asked you to inhale some proplylene glycol, with fragrance and known addictive chemicals I'm pretty sure you would say er is that a good idea?
Which is exactly what vaping is.

There is NO WAY vaping can be good for your lungs.

I think smoking an actual cigarette is probably safer and at least we know exactly what it does to your body.

I'm a RN and NCSCT qualified smoking cessation advisor. Some of the comments on this thread are ridiculous, reeks of pearl clutching and classism, "won't somebody think of the children?!?" Yet I'm sure they've inhaled propyl glycerine many times in their lives 😁

What is this oil you speak of? I've never seen oil in any vape I'm afraid.

Yes, this is pretty much what a Dr said to me. No tar and other nasties in vaping.

Pharm chemist professor friend says unflavoured vapes are undoubtedly way better than smoking. No tar great too. BUT it’s highly probable that some flavourings, or combinations of flavourings (if you use one today and another tomorrow) will be carcinogenic. This is based on a pharm chemistry understanding of flavouring compounds.

i am inclined to believe him…

I am not convinced it's safer, more that there isn't enough long term data so it seems safer.

My Dad was significantly more unwell vaping and in the the end we encouraged him to smoke again as he developed an horrendous cough, was gasping for breath and was getting heart pain vaping, and well he's never going to give up one of the other. That's all gone away now he is smoking again. I mean smoking is going to kill him eventually but it seemed like vaping was going to do it quicker

So those of you who think vaping is safe, is it a problem that many children are vaping who would never have smoked?

I don't vape and only smoked socially in my late teens and 20's.
But I do suffer from migraine and some vape flavours are actually triggers for these- same as perfumes & air freshers!
Never had any problems with tobacco.

So to me, it's more harmful. The chemicals used aren't safe. We just don't know how harmful they are because it hasn't been round long enough!

It causes different issues, but anyone thinking regularly inhaling any type of chemicals into your lungs is 'safe' is kidding themselves. We may not know about ithr issues yet, but for many years tobacco was promoted as healthy....

Literally just after I commented about Pearl clutching and "won't someone please think of the children" you commented this.

If children were not vaping, they would be smoking. I'd rather nobody got addicted to nicotine, but vaping is great harm reduction. I think online retailers should insist on ID verification.

Well yes he would be, because vapes don't contain bronchodilators unlike cigarettes. The cigarettes were opening up his damaged lungs. Would have been far better to get him an inhaler to be honest.

Cancer Research still advocate that vaping is safer then smoking for people who are using them to stop smoking!

So for me, aged 45 who has smoked for 20 years then it is much better than smoking!

I have no smokers cough, I don't get an horrific cough when I have a cold anymore, my lung capacity is better, I can run & exercise.

Nicotine doesn't cause cancer either

Does nicotine cause cancer?
Nicotine is the chemical that makes cigarettes addictive. But it is not responsible for the harmful effects of smoking, and nicotine does not cause cancer. People have safely used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to stop smoking for many years. Nicotine replacement therapy is prescribed by doctors or is available from pharmacies.

I'm not killing anyone by passive vaping & I don't stink so for me it's loads better!

For a 14 year old who was never going to smoke, I don't think it's a good thing to take up & there should definitely be more restrictions on selling or banning disposable bales!

It's one of the most successful ways of stopping people smoking! 🤷‍♀️

So those of you who think vaping is safe, is it a problem that many children are vaping who would never have smoked?

I don't think people are claiming that vaping is literally safe, like drinking water. But it is far, far better than smoking.

As for the anecdotes about smoker's cough getting worse when making the switch - that happens when you quit smoking too. So depressing that people have encouraged their loved ones to start smoking again rather than recognising that the increased coughing is part of the body starting to recover.

Vaping 10 years and I've never had a cough. The smell cigarettes leave in a room/on clothes tells me they are a lot worse than vaping. Vaping doesn't leave any smell on clothes at all.

Vaping is helping so many ex smokers stay off cigarettes and I can't imagine a doctor encouraging someone to stop vaping and go back to smoking. NHS website states vaping is a nicotine replacement and a lot safer than smoking so I won't be listening to a friend of a friend stating their doctor thinks smoking is safer than vaping.

Cigarettes have a considerably larger amount of ingredients than vapes do as well. There is no way they are completely harmless of course but I can't see inhaling vapour being more dangerous than smoke.

Safer than smoking but never intended to be taken up by non smokers (well not by the scientific community, clearly so by those selling it).

My biggest concern would be how much you are going to pay for it. Vapes may be cheap now but it is a matter of time before the tax goes up now there is a new generation hooked. How difficult vaping is to give up is also yet to be seen. For many perhaps even harder than smoking as they are more frequently used and even more habit forming.

I vape as a means to quit smoking and definitely feel better for it. I use one vape about every 10 days. My clothes and hair don’t smell of fags and I have saved a fortune!

However, I think it’s terrible that these things are being glamorised to teenagers, with all the different flavours and packaging. That needs to stop asap. It’s like when alcopops were invented when I was a teen. Suddenly we went from cheap cider of grans sherry, to a world of cool and colourful designs.

@Dymaxion

https://www.gob.mx/cofepris/articulos/cofepris-y-conadic-emiten-alerta-sanitaria-para-vapeadores-y-productos-emergentes-de-tabaco-ocasionan-graves-danos-a-la-salud?state=published

Here is
part of the Health Alert translated into English:

These products contain significant levels of metals such as cadmium, nickel, lead, among others, which represent a health risk. The commissions warn about the risks of consuming these products, highlighting that a cartridge containing 5% nicotine salt is equivalent to between one and three packs of cigarettes. These high concentrations of nicotine have long-term adverse effects on the brain development of boys, girls, adolescents and developing fetuses. As part of the alert, health authorities point out three main types of health damage associated with these products, which are: Respiratory damage due to inflammation of the lung tissue, causing conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and cancer. Cardiovascular damage due to changes in blood circulation, which can cause arteriosclerosis and heart attacks. Mutagenic damage that increases the risk of cancer and reproductive disorders, such as erectile dysfunction.

Earlier this month a 12 year old in an induced coma for 3 days after her lungs couldn't cope with an infection due to her vaping.

Heres the "official" NHS view on vaping.

"Myth 1 : Vaping is just as harmful as smoking

In 2022, UK experts reviewed the international evidence and found that "in the short and medium-term, vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking".

Cigarettes release thousands of different chemicals when they burn – many are poisonous and up to 70 cause cancer. Most of the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke, including tar and carbon monoxide, are not contained in vape aerosol.

People who switch completely from smoking to vaping have significantly reduced exposure to toxins associated with risks of cancer, lung disease, heart disease and stroke"

As a former smoker who now vapes, I'm happy I've made the right choice. Would it be better to not vape? Yes it would, but I've almost certainly significantly reduced the harm I'm doing myself by making the switch.

Vaping myths and the facts - Better Health - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Good job you can only buy 2% nicotine salt in disposable vapes in the uk then isn't it?

Do you know what else contains nickel, calcium and lead?

APPLES.

Here's a research paper outlining the risks to humans when consuming apples: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7916046/#:~:text=The%20content%20of%20heavy%20metals%20in%20the%20apple%20samples.&text=The%20results%20of%20statistical%20analysis,51.42%25%20(Table%202).

Are you going to stop eating them? Are you going to cry about the dangers of them? Are you going to try and cause moral panic about them and try and get them banned?

Just remember, not all research papers are equal....