Health – Vaping

Almost everything you need to know before making the big switch from smoking ciggies to vaping

Have you always wondered why people inhale smoke from portable devices — sometimes even when indoors — or noticed the sudden influx of vaping stores at almost every shopping centre? The vaping trend has taken off in recent years. The Oxford dictionary defines vaping as “the action or practice of inhaling and exhaling the vapour produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device.” E-cigarettes are battery-powered smoking devices with liquid-filled cartridges often comprised of nicotine, flavourings, chemicals and in other cases THC, the chemical contained in marijuana that makes the user feel high. The liquid, sometimes referred to as vape juice, e-liquid or a pod heats up inside the device and is then inhaled by the smoker. One of the benefits, according to users, is the feeling of relaxation that sweeps through the body as you inhale the vapour sans the taste and smell of tobacco that lingers on in the mouth, on your hands and clothes.

TRADITIONAL SMOKING VS VAPING

There’s also a steady increase in the number of people shunning traditional smoking in favour of vaping. However, the jury is still out on whether vapour from e-cigarettes is less detrimental than traditional cigarette smoke. In an interview with IOL, head of marketing and communication at the Cancer Association of SA, Lucy Balona, said that the safety of e-cigarettes hasn’t been scientifically proven as yet. “Testing has highlighted that e-cigarettes vary widely in the amount of nicotine and other chemicals they deliver, and this is usually not communicated to buyers,” she said.

In the same article, Tony Westwood, head of the General and Community Paediatrics School of Child and Adolescent Health at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town, added that e-cigarettes are not regulated and have no health warnings — and even went as far as equating them to buying ice-cream by the scoop. “We worry that e-cigarettes are a nicotine delivery device and should only be used, if at all, as prescribed medication to assist nicotine addicts,” he shared. South Africans’ opinions on vaping are split, with some being unbothered by this trend while some are pushing for the tightening of a bill that will see the sale and advertising of e-cigarettes, their manufacture and export being scrutinised closely, as well as prohibiting those under 18 from purchasing them. On the other hand, there are many studies that indicate that e-cigarettes serve as an effective alternative for those smokers looking to quit the habit.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What are some of the common vaping devices?

E-cigarettes, e-cigs, smokeless cigarettes, vaporisers, vape pods, vape pens, tanks and ciga-likes. These vary widely in size, shape and design. Some look like USBs or fancy pens, while others are chunky. Switching to vaping can be a tad overwhelming as there various e-cigarette types and designs to choose from.

What are the benefits of vaping?

The absence of any combustion, tar or ash often associated with traditional smoking affords the user an opportunity to be smoke-free and have improved oral hygiene, skin health, lung capacity and a sense of smell and taste. Though hailed as safer than traditional cigarettes, experts caution users to be aware of the possibility of addiction because most vape devices contain nicotine.

What happens when you stop smoking and start vaping?

Going cold turkey when trying to quit smoking often results in frustration and eventually, a relapse — hence most people turn to vaping to first reduce their nicotine intake. You can start on a low nicotine e-liquid or a nicotine-free option until you’re strong enough to live a puff-free life. E-cigarettes give the user the same habitual experience offered by smoking while cutting out the carbon monoxide, the tar and other carcinogens found in regular smoke. This is not to say that vape smoke does not carry some of the same chemicals found in tobacco smoke. E-cigarettes are said to contain significantly smaller levels of these chemicals.

What is in e-liquid?

It usually contains propylene glycol and/or glycerin, chemicals for flavouring and nicotine.