Inhaling any substance that the body is not naturally occurring can have a detrimental effect on the functioning of the lungs, heart, and blood. While the study of cigarette smoke on cardiovascular performance has been extensively studied, overwhelmingly in support of its impairment, fewer long-term studies have been able to be conducted, as vaping is a relatively new phenomenon.
New studies on cadavers of vapers reveal new chemicals and ingredients that could lead to serious health conditions. With a focus on the rise of patients suffering from EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use associated with lung injury), studies indicate a link between extensive vaping and hospitalisations.
EDGE Vaping investigates the effect that vaping has on the body, using research to understand the way in which the chemicals are absorbed and their health impacts. For more information about vaping, explore EDGE Vaping’s News Hub.
EVALI patients linked to vaping
Recent years have seen a rise in EVALI patients. The symptoms are similar to pneumonia, but a clinical investigation showed no causative bacterial or viral infection, indicating another source. Instead, many of the patients were found to have traces of Vitamin E and Tetrahydrocannabinol - THC.
Such chemicals were found in a statistically significant number of patients, indicating the link between ingesting them and developing severe health issues. This issue was unique to the American vaping industry, where regulations at the time did not effectively prevent these additives from being combined with e-liquids either by businesses or at home. Since before EVALI was a concern amongst vapers, the UK TPR and TPD regulations have outlawed the addition of ingredients like vitamins and caffeine to any vaping liquid.
Avoiding Vitamin E and THC
The subsequent investigations into the rise of EVALI patients have led to a growing consensus to avoid Vitamin E and THC, as well as other additives when using nicotine inhalation products.
Alongside a US statistic that 2.4% of people diagnosed with EVALI from vaping die, it is vital that you undertake due diligence before using a vape device to understand its contents and legitimacy.
Due to vaping’s relatively new arrival onto the consumer market, little is known about the long-term side effects. This is especially true for Vitamin E acetate and THC, whose combinations could pose further health complications, perhaps comparable to smoking cigarettes.
Is vaping worse for the body than smoking?
Despite new concerns about vaping’s link to hospitalisations, these are mainly attributed to the intake of Vitamin E and THC - both of which are not within readily available vaping products in the UK.
Furthermore, an independent investigation led by Public Health England found that e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than tobacco. The NHS affirms the current understanding that vaping has not been found to harm bystanders, either.
Cigarettes contain thousands of chemicals, of which at least 70 are known carcinogens. E-cigarette liquid contains a fraction of these chemicals, posing a minute comparable health risk. The main health concerns caused by vaping stem from nicotine, which is known to potentially cause health issues.
What does nicotine do to the body?
From the moment nicotine is ingested, it makes its way into the bloodstream to be circulated around the body. The instant effect is heightened blood pressure and an increased heart rate. An individual with cardiovascular issues who ingests too much nicotine could feel adverse health effects.
Furthermore, nicotine is known to have damaging effects on oral wellbeing. It can contribute to:
- Tooth loss
- Gum disease
- Gum recession
- Dry mouth
- Bad breath
However, these effects are typically not severe, and as such, the fact that vaping’s adverse health effects are generally limited to nicotine intake makes it a much more favourable choice than tobacco.
Find out more about vaping’s effect on the body
EDGE Vaping continuously investigates and shares the latest information about vaping, including its regulations and health effects. Check out our blogs to learn more about the different ways vaping can affect your body in our best practice blog series, you might want to start with Nicotine and Mental Health.
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