The dangers of vaping or e-cigarettes are considered lighter than tobacco cigarettes. However, this opinion is actually not quite right. Check out the description of the dangers of vaping or vaping below, before you use it.
Unlike tobacco cigarettes, vaping does not contain harmful substances, such as tar and carbon monoxide. However, this does not mean that vaping is safer than tobacco cigarettes. Vape actually contains harmful chemicals, such as nicotine, acetaldehyde, acrolein, propanal, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and diacetyl, which are almost the same as tobacco cigarettes.
Various Vaping Hazards
There are various dangers of vaping that you should be aware of, including:
1. Causing addiction
Just like tobacco cigarettes, vaping also contains nicotine which can cause nicotine dependence. Nicotine contained in vaping can stimulate the brain to release the hormone dopamine in large quantities, resulting in a dependency effect.
So, vaping doesn't help you to quit smoking, but instead makes you addicted.
2. Harm the lungs
Even though you don't use tobacco, that doesn't mean the dangers of vaping are lighter than tobacco cigarettes. The reason is, e-cigarettes still contain nicotine which can increase the risk of inflammation in the lungs and reduce the ability of protective tissue in the lungs to protect lung organs.
The content of additives in electronic cigarettes can also pose health risks. The acetyl contained in e-cigarettes can cause bronchiolitis obliterans, or better known as popcorn lung.popcorn lung).
In addition, vitamin E acetate, which is present in several types of electronic cigarettes, is also strongly suspected of causing lung damage, which is known as e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). This condition causes chest pain and shortness of breath which can end in respiratory failure.
3. Harm the heart
Besides having a bad impact on lung health, the nicotine in vaping can also irritate the heart. When nicotine is absorbed and through the bloodstream, the adrenal glands can be stimulated to release the hormone epinephrine (adrenal). The release of the hormone epinephrine is what causes blood pressure and heart rate to increase.
4. Causes disturbances to the fetus
In pregnant women, active or passive vaping (exposure to vape smoke from other people) can harm the fetus in the womb. The reason is that exposure to nicotine and other harmful substances in vaping can interfere with fetal development.
Meanwhile, in children, exposure to nicotine from vaping can interfere with brain development and affect memory.
5. Increases the risk of getting cancer
Just like tobacco cigarettes, vaping can also increase the risk of cancer. The formaldehyde content in e-cigarettes is carcinogenic, so when inhaled for a long time, it can trigger the appearance of cancer cells.
Another danger of vaping is if the nicotine liquid used to fill e-cigarettes gets on the skin or is accidentally ingested by children. This can lead to serious conditions, even death. Therefore, always store and dispose of vaping devices properly to prevent children from vaping poisoning.
Some of the signs and symptoms of nicotine poisoning are paleness, vomiting, sweating, drooling, shaking, seizures, and fainting. If you find a child in this condition, immediately take him to the ER for treatment.
After knowing the dangers of vaping, you are expected to be wiser and avoid using vaping and conventional cigarettes. If you have health complaints after using vaping, or want to stop smoking and vaping habits, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.