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?

You will get addicted, it’s pretty much inevitable. The evening will start sooner. Or there’ll be a stressful event and you’ll think “I’ll just have a few sucks on the vape”.
But I understand the power of nicotine. My Gran gave up smoking at age 60, but loved the feeling nicotine gave her, and never managed to give it up. She chewed nicotine gum instead, which has been around for decades and is known to be safe. If you can’t live without nicotine, I would definitely try the gum, or put a patch on in the evening.
Also, do you want your kids to vape when they’re older? Because they’re much more likely to if you and your husband do. And they’ll know, kids know everything!

They definitely don't know. They really don't. One of my ultimate rules is that they will not see me doing it. My dh has always done it and I've had chats with my older two about how daft it is (especially as they are starting seniors soon and will no doubt come into contact with kids doing it). I'm not worried about that. Nobody knows that I do it except my dh.

I switched to a vape to help me quit smoking. I was a 40 a day smoker for over 30 years.

Swapped to a vape and over 4 months I reduced the nicotine strength of the mix I was refilling my vape with. Once it reached 0 nicotine, I kept it up for a few weeks and then just stopped.

Yes. I stopped smoking in January 2016, vaping instead. I still do and have no intention of stopping because I don't want to.

To stop you smoking actual fags?

No chance but then I've never smoked either, just not for me

Well done. Actually using the vape to break the addiction rather than another way of getting the fix.

Jordan North's documentary on BBC 3 is really good

I smoked from age 15-50, swapped to a beer, cut down the strengths till I was in 0% then just packed it in.
That's how vapes should be used IMO.

No I don’t and I never will

I don't vape or smoke but hate smell of smoke but vape? Only smell I smell is a mild smell of fruit

Well it depends what flavour they’re vaping for a start. Often they’re things like ‘candy floss’, really sickly and sweet. And they blow it over you in a cloud. And there’s often a group of people vaping together, then you get a mix of sickly artificial smells. But we’re all different 🤷🏻‍♀️. Things may bother you that I don’t care about.

I do think MN is unusually judgemental about smoking/vaping.

I would imagine most of the people posting on here either drive a car or take foreign holidays, in which case it's hypocritical to complain about clouds of vapour. They wear perfume or antiperspirants that cannot possibly be universally liked, so it's hypocritical to complain about the smell. They hate that vapes smell sweet because it's for children, while no doubt they eat cake, chocolate, sweets, and biscuits themselves. Most of you are at the very least addicted to caffeine and sugar, if not have a frequent hankering for alcohol. And as for worrying about the health of others, how many of you are overweight? Or take no exercise? How many drink regularly?

There's a lot of hypocrisy going on here.

How is it hypocrisy to not like the smell of something? I hate the smell of most vapes, they’re rank. I also dislike most perfumes, some antiperspirants etc but this is a thread about vapes, hence giving my view on vapes.
Everyone has opinions. People obviously get defensive about their choices, and that’s normal. But I still hate walking through clouds of vape smoke, and it doesn’t make me ‘hypocritical’ to say so. It would be hypocritical if I was saying ‘I vape but I hate the smell and don’t want others doing it around me’, sure.

Because people don't always like your smell either.

You can not like the smell, of course. But don't act like your shit doesn't stink.

No I never have and never would.

It's only a matter of time before the evidence is in of how harmful to health it is. The studies are already trickling in and as the damage will be cumulative there will be lots more in the future.

That’s fine, and if it was a thread about the smell of my shit then we could discuss that.
I hate the smell of vapes. It’s rank. I hate having it blown over me when I walk down the street. That’s just the truth.
I’m sure there are many things about me that other people hate. They’re welcome to discuss them.

I vape when I'm drinking which isn't very often. Less than once a month.

No I'd never do it and people thinking it's healthier for them than smoking, this is just stupid in my opinion. It's still chemicals going into your lungs 🙈 op I'd try get off them now before it becomes a life long habit good luck

The NHS recommend them because they are safer than smoking. It's still chemicals and it's still far less healthy than not doing it at all. But the evidence so far does suggest it's better than smoking.

It is bound to have less health implications due to the fact there are less chemicals and you’re not burning them, the only good thing for your lungs is fresh air. I certainly wouldn’t start it if I were a non-smoker but it’s still a free country.
As an ex smoker now of 10 years and someone who smoked 20 to 30 a day, I now vape I no longer have a cough, my lung function has increased and so has my bank balance because it is 1/10th the cost of smoking. I only vape menthol.
There is no point in doing it if you’re gonna worry about it.

Yes I vape. Switched 10 years ago after smoking for 40 years.
No intention of stopping. I don't vape the fruity smelly ones.
If I couldn't vape I would go back to smoking.
Something will kill you in the end anyway, no matter how healthily you live. No one gets out alive!

It's stupid to think that it's as bad as smoking

No one is saying its good for you. But it's definitely better than smoking

Similar to you OP. I started vaping as I was stressed and needed a way to unwind in the evening. Single mum to two young children so I don't like to drink alcohol at night at home in case I need to take someone somewhere in an emergency!

It has certainly spiralled and I am sure struggling to quit. I was never a smoker of cigarettes so I am surprised how much this has taken a hold.

Tips on quitting welcomed!

You're going to become addicted to
Nicotine

Why? Just why?