Comparing Electronic Cigarettes and Smoking for Health Risks

You might think electronic cigarettes are safe, but they still have health risks. Many young adults think vaping is not as bad as smoking. More people aged 23-24 are using e-cigarettes now. Recent studies show e-liquids have chemicals that can hurt your lungs. Scientists do not know all the long-term effects yet. Some animal studies make people worry about cancer risks.

“We do not know the long-term risks of using e-cigarettes. If the risks are like regular cigarettes, or even if they are less but still there, we might not see them for many years.

Key Takeaways

• Electronic cigarettes are not completely safe. They can still hurt your lungs and heart. They are less harmful than regular cigarettes, but not harmless.
• Vaping and smoking can both cause addiction because of nicotine. Knowing this can help you make smart choices about using them.
• If you want to stop smoking or vaping, get help. You can use things like counseling, nicotine patches, or phone apps to help you quit.
• Know that secondhand exposure is risky. Try not to breathe in vapor or smoke. This keeps you and others healthy.
• Keep learning about the long-term effects of e-cigarettes. Scientists are still studying them, and some health risks are not known yet.

What Are Electronic Cigarettes and Cigarettes?

How Electronic Cigarettes Work

Electronic cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes. They use batteries to make vapor that you can breathe in. Each one has four main parts. There is a cartridge for the liquid, a coil that heats up, a battery, and a mouthpiece. The liquid inside has nicotine, flavors, and other chemicals. When you turn it on or take a puff, the coil gets hot. This heat turns the liquid into vapor. You breathe in this vapor. Some look like pipes or cigars. Others look like regular cigarettes.

People using electronic cigarettes often take deeper puffs. Those who have used them longer breathe in more and get more nicotine than new users.

How Cigarettes Work

Cigarettes are made from tobacco leaves rolled in paper. You light the end to burn the tobacco. This makes the smoke you breathe in through a filter. The smoke has nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, and other chemicals. Burning tobacco makes over 70 things that can cause cancer. The smoke also leaves ash and a strong smell.

Key Differences

E-cigarettes do not have tobacco like regular cigarettes. They use a liquid that gets heated to make vapor. Regular cigarettes burn tobacco to make smoke. E-liquids have nicotine, propylene glycol, and flavors. These are not in regular cigarettes. Also, e-liquids are not checked as much, so people worry about what is really in them.

Here is a table showing some main differences:

Electronic cigarettes do not make smoke or ash. They make vapor with fewer bad chemicals. Scientists are still learning about the long-term risks. Both give you nicotine, which can make you addicted.

Health Risks of Electronic Cigarettes vs. Smoking

Short-Term Effects

You might notice changes in your health soon after you start using electronic cigarettes or smoking. Both can cause problems that make daily life harder. Here is a table with some common short-term effects:

Both electronic cigarettes and regular cigarettes can make your heart beat faster and raise your blood pressure. Studies show your heart rate can go up by about 4 beats per minute after using either one. Your blood pressure can also get higher. If you do not use these products, your heart rate and blood pressure stay the same. You may also find it harder to exercise than people who do not use these products.

Long-Term Effects

You may think electronic cigarettes are safe for a long time, but research shows they still have risks. Scientists found that people who use these products have more lung and heart problems. For example, you can get EVALI, which means e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury. This has sent thousands of people to the hospital and has even caused deaths.

Nicotine in both products can make your blood vessels tighter. This makes your blood pressure and heart rate go up. Over time, this can lead to heart disease. You may also have a bigger chance of chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and other heart problems. Your lungs can get inflamed, and you may get sick more often. Some chemicals in the vapor can make your body release things that make infections and pneumonia more likely.

Here are some important things to remember:

1. Electronic cigarettes can make your airways swell and make breathing harder.
2. The vapor can make your body release chemicals that raise your risk of infection.
3. Nicotine can hurt your heart and blood vessels over time.

Scientists do not know if electronic cigarettes cause cancer like regular cigarettes. The risk of lung cancer is still being studied. But these products do make tiny particles and chemicals that can hurt your heart and lungs. Some of these chemicals are known to cause cancer and problems with having babies.

In 2019 and 2020, many people got very sick from using electronic cigarettes. This showed that these products can be dangerous, especially when they have harmful substances.

Secondhand Exposure

You may wonder if being near someone who uses electronic cigarettes is safe. The truth is, secondhand vapor is less harmful than cigarette smoke, but it is not safe. Electronic cigarettes put nicotine into the air, but at much lower levels than regular cigarettes. For example, the air around someone using these products can have about 3.32 micrograms of nicotine per cubic meter, while cigarette smoke can have about 31.60 micrograms.

Electronic cigarettes do not make as much carbon monoxide or other toxic gases as cigarettes. But the vapor still has harmful substances. Some chemicals in the vapor can cause cancer or make it harder to have children. The vapor also has tiny particles that can go deep into your lungs. Sometimes, there are even more of these particles than in cigarette smoke.

Secondhand exposure can be risky for children, pregnant women, and people with health problems. You should try not to breathe in vapor or smoke from any product to keep yourself healthy.

Note: No tobacco product is safe. The best way to protect yourself and others is to avoid using or being around these products.

Who Uses Electronic Cigarettes and Cigarettes?

Why People Use Electronic Cigarettes

You see more people using electronic cigarettes now. People try them for many reasons. The most common reasons are:

• Curiosity (53%)
• Friends or family influence (34%)
• Quitting or cutting down smoking (30%)

Most people try e-cigarettes because they are curious. Friends and family can make you want to try them too. Some people use e-cigarettes to help stop smoking regular cigarettes.

What you think matters a lot in your choices. If you believe e-cigarettes are safer, you may feel okay using them. You might feel pressure if people around you use them. If you think you can control your use, you may want to try them. These social and mental reasons can make you start using them.

Why People Smoke

People smoke for different reasons. Health worries make some people want to quit. Other things keep people smoking. Here is a table with the main reasons people think about quitting:

People smoke because of stress, habit, or being social. Warnings about health and cost can make you want to stop.

Trends by Age Group

Younger adults use e-cigarettes more than older adults. In 2021, 11% of people aged 18–24 used e-cigarettes. Only 6.5% of people aged 25–44 used them. Just 2% of those 45 and older used them. This shows that younger people use e-cigarettes much more.

E-cigarette use is different around the world. Here is a table showing how common e-cigarette use is in different places:

Younger people use e-cigarettes more. Smoking rates change based on where you live and local rules.

Practical Advice for Users

Quitting Smoking

You can quit smoking with the right help and plan. Many people find it hard, but you do not have to do it alone. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists can give you advice. You can join a group or have one-on-one counseling. Support from the internet, mobile apps, and phone calls can also help you stay on track. Some people use nicotine patches, gum, or medicine to make quitting easier.

Tip: Set a quit date and tell your friends and family. They can support you and keep you motivated.

Here is a table showing how well different methods work:

Guidance for Electronic Cigarette Users

If you want to stop using electronic cigarettes, you can follow these steps:

1. Find your reason for quitting, like health or saving money.
2. Pick a quit date and get ready.
3. Think about using nicotine patches or gum if you need help.
4. Notice what makes you want to vape and plan how to handle those moments.
5. Use activities like walking or listening to music when you feel cravings.
6. Ask friends, family, or support groups for help.
7. Try relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or yoga, to manage stress.

Note: If you do not smoke or vape, do not start. Electronic cigarettes are not safe for non-smokers.

Support and Resources

You can find many resources to help you quit. Here are some helpful options:

• Quit Vaping
• Tobacco Cessation Tools & Resources
• Truth Initiative EX Program
• BecomeAnEX
• Tips From Former Smokers

You can also talk to your doctor or a counselor. Support is always available when you need it.

You have learned that electronic cigarettes are less harmful than smoking. But they are not safe for people who do not smoke. Both vaping and smoking can hurt your heart and lungs. It is important to know the risks before you decide what to do.

• Vaping might lower cancer risk for people who never smoked. But it can still damage your cells and heart.
• Health groups want strict rules for e-cigarettes. They warn that we do not know all the long-term effects yet.
• Making a plan to quit and getting help can keep you healthy.

Tip: If you want to quit, try the 4 D’s—Delay, Deep breathe, Drink water, Do something else. Ask for help and make smart choices for your health.

FAQ

Can electronic cigarettes help you quit smoking?

Some people use e-cigarettes to stop smoking. They think it helps them quit. Health experts say you should use things like counseling or nicotine patches. You should talk to your doctor before trying e-cigarettes to quit.

Are electronic cigarettes safe for teens?

E-cigarettes are not safe for teens. Your brain is still growing at your age. Nicotine can hurt your memory and focus. It is easier to get addicted when you are young.

Do electronic cigarettes contain harmful chemicals?

E-cigarettes have harmful chemicals inside. You breathe in nicotine, flavors, and other things. Some of these can hurt your lungs and heart. Scientists are still learning about all the dangers.

Is secondhand vapor from e-cigarettes dangerous?

Secondhand vapor is not as bad as cigarette smoke. It still has nicotine and tiny particles in it. You should not breathe in vapor, especially if you have health problems or are pregnant.

You might think electronic cigarettes are safe, but they still have health risks. Many young adults think vaping is not as bad as smoking. More people aged 23-24 are using e-cigarettes now. Recent studies show e-liquids have chemicals that can hurt your lungs. Scientists do not know all the long-term effects yet. Some animal studies make people worry about cancer risks.

“We do not know the long-term risks of using e-cigarettes. If the risks are like regular cigarettes, or even if they are less but still there, we might not see them for many years.

You Can Read More

Why New Vapes Often Have Little to No Flavor at First

Is Vaping Worse Than Drinking? A Clear, Science-Based Comparison

When Did Vapes Come Out? A Complete History of Electronic Cigarettes