Walking through any crowded area, you are oftentimes smothered with smoke from strangers. No longer do we see smoking on the rise, but instead a new trend – vaping. In fact, only 18% of Americans reported smoking in 2012. This is compared to 40% in 1965.
Instead, we turned to new ways to harm ourselves.
This new lifestyle trend is one to discuss. Anywhere you are vaping is present. In the mall, movies, schools, and restaurants vaping is the new addiction that is catching the attention of all.
Vaping is relatively new to many. According to the Center on Addiction, it is “the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, often referred to as vapor, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device.” They were introduced to the public shortly after e-cigarettes in 2007 and have mixed reviews from many.
Because these products are so new, we don’t really knkow much about them. In turn, many individuals, young adults, seem to believe that this new habit is harmless. They haven’t seen any harmful, long-term effects, so why should they care?
But, didn’t the world think that smoking was also not harmful at one point, too? It took years of research and studies to realize that people were poisoning their bodies. This scenario of vaping sounds all too familiar.
What we do know though, is that the particles that are included in these vapes do include toxic chemicals which have a connection to cancer in addition to heart and respiratory diseases.
Some argue that vaping is significantly safer than smoking real cigarettes, but that argument is only having one choose the lesser of two evils – they are both bad for you.
Regardless, e-cigs and vapes still contain nicotine which is directly related to heart disease. The evidence is clear.
Many states are even taking it a step further and banning vaping where smoking is not allowed. These states include Utah, New Jersey, and North Dakota. Other cities are not far behind with Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago restricting their use as well.
Doctor IRgan Rahman from the University of Rochester Medical Center has more to add on the topic of vaping and e-cig use. After hearing complaints from users of soar mouths and bleeding throats he took an interest. What he found further shows the effects. Rahman and his team showed how vaping inflamed mouth cells that could lead to gum disease- which leads to a slew of effects.
More so, he found that the gases and particles that are inhaled into the lungs make it even more difficult for lung cells to repair damage. Research shows that “the hotter the vape liquid gets, the harsher its effect on human cells.”
This new trend is being found all across the United States. It’s becoming an integral part of the lifestyle of so many young people – a risk that we cannot be willing to take.
Rob McConnel, an internal medicine specialist at the University of Southern California states, “If you’re a teen with your whole life in front of you, why take that risk?”
The evidence is there. Vaping contains harmful chemicals that can lead to an array of health issues. While it’s true that they don’t contain the same amount of chemicals as regular cigarettes, we can’t just choose the one that’s least harmful. They are both harmful!
While these devices have not been around for long, we still know little about the long-term effects of what vaping can have upon the body, as well as those around users.