Do you vape?

[fantalimon23]

I know this will attract judgement but I'm not asking for criticism, just discussion.

Never been a smoker but recently took up vaping. Dh does it and so do a few friends. I was curious. We are going through a very stressful time in life - young dc and no help, demanding job, house renovation. I was winding down in the evenings using booze and junk food which wasn't good for me either so I suppose I just wanted to try something that helped relax me. I do enjoy it but I don't think I'm 'addicted' per se, for example I don't take it out with me during the day and don't miss it. I just use it in the evenings.

Anyway bizarrely I have health anxiety which is quite ridiculous when I think of all of the unhealthy habits and coping mechanisms I have. But I do worry about the vape. There is so much conflicting info out there - loads of sources saying it's much better than smoking others saying it's as bad or worse. All the alleged health issues they can cause but no definitive studies as they've not been around long enough.

So I guess I'm wondering if you vape, why? What does it bring you? And do you worry about the health impact?

Thanks for this thread OP , after reading most of comments i haven't vaped ( and i had no intention to stop !)

can't believe i started this terrible habit on first place , never again

I’m sure you meant air but I get your point.

😆

By all means mock me, it says more about you than me. I asked for a discussion but sadly many people seem unable to manage that without becoming patronising, sarcastic or insulting simply because they have a different opinion.

It isn't a cop out to say life is stressful. And yes it's a choice. I made a choice to take up an unhealthy habit just like people do when they decide to drink alcohol, eat a McDonald's, smoke a cigarette. It's a coping mechanism, not a particularly clever one but it does relax me.

This article from the NHS explains quite a bit:

www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/vaping-myths-and-the-facts/

I vape because I was a smoker, everything seems to indicate that it’s less harmful than smoking and it’s a lot cheaper.

But less harmful than smoking is a pretty low bar tbh, it’s still a load of chemicals going into your lungs and nicotine is very addictive.

For me vaping is better than the 20+ cigarettes a day I was smoking... but for someone who isn’t a smoker it does seem like a strange thing to start up as an adult.

Do you struggle with reading comprehension? Could you point out exactly where I've said that? If anything I've repeatedly said I know it's unhealthy.

If you're going to criticise at least read my posts properly first.

Thanks for pointing this out. Very relevant to the thread. I NC multiple times a week. Fairly normal behaviour here I believe.

Surely the health issues surrounding vaping remain the same regardless of whether or not you were previously a smoker. Obviously it's better than smoking. Obviously it's worse than not smoking and not vaping. But that doesn't change the facts on the article I posted.

I'm not advocating it. I know it was a silly thing to start doing. But I wish people could engage in conversations without being so bloody rude and condescending.

It's all over the news and they're in the shops

And it is very deliberately targeted. They, on the whole, come from China and there is little to no safety regulation

Which is why the Govt want to ban them

I suppose I don't understand how someone with health anxiety starts something that's only going to make that worse.

Thereby adding to the stress.

And yet another post with misinformation. Many vape products are from U.K. companies. Many fluids are uk manufacturers.

No because even others vaping near me triggers my asthma. And so many people do it every half a minute. I notice because it effects me. Some people are so addicted and attached to the vape ... More permanently than I ever saw anyone with cigarettes. Being able to get a hit more frequently must balance out it being less harmful than smoking.

And less harmful does not mean harmless. It's like saying swimming with one shark is less harmful than swimming with two.

Sorry for going off on one. I know you're not that addicted but I think they're bad. Long term effects take a long tine to study. Studies are already showing DNA changes that could cause cancer (could because more time is needed to see).

Smoking was deemed safe for so long

I think they should only be available on prescription to quit smoking

I've been vaping for the past 3 years. I dont find it at all as addictive as smoking a cigarette and find it easy to put down, just pick up when I fancy a puff.

When I did smoke cigarettes I used to cough a lot, especially at night. House and furnishings smelled of smoke, windows dirty. Id be conscious of my clothes and hair smelling of cigarette smoke. None of that is an issue now. I will never smoke a cigarette again.

I don't drink. So this is my 1 'vice'. I like vaping. Maybe in years to come a health issue will be discovered but I feel the same is the case for the multitude of poison and chemical and radio frequency 'beauty treatments' that many put into their bodies in fruitless pursuit of eternal youth. So i guess vaping will be the hill I die on (probably literally)

The thing is the friends I know who pick it up when they fancy a puff fancy it so often it's practically surgically attached to their hands. They think it's just a puff and another... Constantly. Compared to periodic cigarette breaks

The non stop nature of it makes nights out with friends impossible for me because it triggers my asthma.

Especially as so many pubs allow vaping indoors

People eating McDonald's and having fillers don't effect me like that

I feel so bad for children growing up in homes with constant vaping

Passive smoking causes asthma in children ot even developing in later life. Vaping likely harms them too

Seriously!? It can be both. It's marketed at both. And the side that clearly markets it to children is unethical.

So little critical thinking these days. Can't see nuance.

I can't believe some are pretending vaping is worse than vaping because cigarette smokers, smoke less. Of course they don't - this is just saying anything for the sake of it. What do you think chain-smoking means...? Cigarettes contain 1000s of chemicals, never thought I'd see the MN day of cigarettes being put forward as a better alternative to vaping. Illogical arguments make no sense.

Never vaped, was a 4 a day smoker, all ways after 10pm. Not had a cig for a month now and don't miss it at all. I spent months feeling guilty and wondering how I could give up and it was just such a habit, like I needed to buy cigs to have them in the drawer but in the end, I wasn't enjoying that kick. Anyway, I went old turkey, had my last cig and couldn't even finish it, the thought now makes me feel sick and that is only a month in. Used to wake up with a wheeze and that has gone now and sleep so much better too. Just a few things to consider

I don't vape. But I like a drink and a cake etc. How many obese people like a biscuit knowing it causes multiple diseases and diabetes etc. we are all not perfect,

OP it sounds like you enjoy vaping and don’t want to quit so I don’t really know what you are asking? In the nicest possible way did you want people who vape to comment so you feel better that it’s not just you?

I started vaping because I smoked 30 a day for 15 years and was coughing and out of breath, every time I gave up smoking I put on weight and with a history of eating disorders I couldn’t cope with that.

The thing is about vaping is that it’s far easier to get addicted to, you don’t run out easily like a pack of cigarettes, there’s no “final puff” and you get used to high levels of nicotine. Before I started vaping I was doing well on patches and I really wish I’d stuck to it.

My partner had never smoked but started having a few puffs on my vape, then he bought his own and now both of us are hopelessly addicted. It’s got to the point that if my vape isn’t within easy reach I keep unconsciously looking for it and I have 5 in case one goes flat (and I’m great at losing them. I saw someone post about having them on a string round your neck and thought that’s a great idea!)
Its also very antisocial and you still have to go outside most places to vape, I know you haven’t got to that point yet but you most likely will.

You wouldn’t like it if your kids did it so don’t be a hypocrite, give it up while you can, you will seriously regret it if you don’t. I think it’s far more addictive than smoking and there will be other ways for you to cope.

I’m also being a hypocrite for saying this but i really wish someone had warned me, it also gets expensive when it’s long term. I promise if you carry on the cravings will be too strong for you to wait till evening, unless you’ve been addicted to nicotine you underestimate the power of it.
Imagine feeling starving hungry, you get irritable and all you can think of is food, you know that there is food available but it’s not that healthy- it doesn’t matter in the end because the cravings get too strong.
In the end you’ll reach for that vape and then it’ll never be out of your hand.

I don’t think anyone will persuade you otherwise and you’ll feel validated by the people who have admitted they do vape, but you asked for advice so here’s mine.