Vaping has created a stir in the past few years, and everyone is seen promoting vaping over smoking. It is a process of inhaling vapour with an e-cigarette and has lately become immensely popular.
Although it is marketed as a safer alternative with fewer side effects, it is not exactly true. In this blog, we will talk about vaping along with its risks and side effects while shedding some light on its impact on sexual health.
What is Vaping?
Vaping is the act of inhaling smoke with an electronic device known as an e-cigarette. Traditionally, cigarettes burn tobacco to form smoke, whereas vaping is done by vaporising a liquid. The liquid used is also called e-juice or vape juice.
The composition of this liquid is nicotine, a flavouring agent, and a base. The base is often made out of propylene glycol and glycerin. The e-cigarette is activated with a button or simply by inhaling.
It leads to igniting the heating element, which forms vapour when it comes in contact with the liquid. The vapour formed has nicotine along with flavour, which the person inhales.
What is the difference between vaping and smoking?
Vaping and smoking are two methods of inhaling smoke, but let’s find out where the difference lies.
The basic difference is in the method of consumption, wherein traditional cigarettes involve the combustion of nicotine that produces smoke. Whereas vaping uses a vaporisation method to produce smoke.
Traditional cigarettes produce a lot of toxic substances when they burn, whereas vaping eliminates these byproducts.
Both methods, in the end, deliver nicotine, which is addictive in nature. The e-cigarettes may, however, come with an option to control the nicotine concentration, which gives the user some control.
Moreover, cigarettes may contain harmful chemicals like tar and carbon monoxide, which can be avoided with e-cigarettes.
What are the effects of Vaping?
We all know smoking is bad for health, but vaping has come out to be a safer alternative. But all that glitters is not gold, and vaping also has a long list of side effects.
Let us find out about these issues:
The side effects can be divided into long-term and short-term effects.
The short-term effects include:
- Respiratory irritation – The vapors can irritate the lung and air passage which can cause various symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, and itching of the throat.
- Addiction – Similar to traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes deliver nicotine which is addictive in nature. The addiction further has various side effects like increased heart rate, blood pressure, and mood swings, to name a few.
- Dry mouth – Vaping can cause dehydration, which causes dry mouth and makes you feel thirsty all the time.
- Headache – Some people may experience headaches and dizziness after vaping, which could be aftereffects of nicotine.
- Nausea – Vaping can cause nausea in some people, and it mostly happens in newbies.
Long-term side effects:
Vaping is relatively new, so it is hard to comment on long-term side effects, but most side effects happen due to nicotine consumption, which remains similar to traditional smoking.
- Respiratory illnesses – Long-term smoking is known to cause respiratory issues like chronic bronchitis and impacts lung capacity. It is a known cause that induces asthma, which is a lifelong condition.
- Cardiac disorders – Nicotine is known for its adverse effects on heart health and increases the risk of stroke in the long term.
- Popcorn lung – Inhalation of flavouring agents over an extended period can cause a condition known as popcorn lung. It is characterised by damage to small lung airways and is also known as bronchiolitis obliterans.
- Immunity – Vaping can compromise overall immunity and make you more prone to infections.
- Addiction – Like smoking, vaping also delivers nicotine, which is addictive in nature. It further becomes hard to quit and includes withdrawal symptoms.
Effects of Vaping on Sexual Health
Vaping has several side effects, and along with others, it can also impact sexual health. It can affect your sex drive and even cause erectile dysfunction.
Vaping and Sex Drive
The side effects of vaping on sexual health remain debatable due to a lack of research. However, a few studies have shed light on the fact that harmful ingredients in vapours can disturb hormonal balance. This potentially disturbed hormonal balance can affect sex drive.
Nicotine in e-cigarettes, like traditional cigarettes, can impact the blood supply to the genital area by restricting the vessels. Improper blood flow is known to impact the libido.
Even flavouring agents that are marketed as free of harmful effects are seen to cause damage to sexual functioning.
Vaping and Erectile Dysfunction
Smoking is a known cause of erectile dysfunction, and vaping is not far from the light. Vaping also emits nicotine that decreases the blood flow to the penis via constriction of blood vessels.
Reduced blood supply to the penis affects the body’s ability to get or sustain an erection.
Vaping can also initiate chronic inflammation within the body. It further impacts the blood flow and may cause conditions like plaque formation, also known as atherosclerosis. Therefore, vaping can cause erectile dysfunction.
Persistent smoking via e-cigarettes can also damage the lining of blood vessels, which also ultimately impacts blood supply. Insufficient blood flow can also cause erectile dysfunction.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggested that men who smoked via e-cigarettes experienced erectile dysfunction more often than non-smokers. Read here
Why should you consider quitting Vaping?
Vaping is only a harmful habit that will cause multifold damage over time. The rage around e-cigarettes is only fooling you into serious problems. It is a relatively newer phenomenon, and the long-term effects are yet to be seen.
Now propagated as the safer alternative, it may come out to be even more dangerous in later experiments. The long-term effects cannot be understood at this point, and it is better to stay away from getting into addiction.
Moreover, the idea of e-cigarette consumption is more popular in youth. It would not be wrong to say it is a new status symbol and is looked upon as a cool thing to do.
Nicotine addiction in youth can have even more devastating effects. Addiction at this stage can even impair brain development and cause cognitive difficulties.
The next thing you need to be aware of is that vaping may serve as a stepping stone to traditional smoking. Getting used to vaping may form nicotine addiction, which may slowly sway you to smoke and cause serious damage.
How can you quit vaping?
It is essential to understand the harmful effects of vaping. You need to educate yourself about the similarities between smoking and vaping and make informed choices.
You should quit the habit to lead a healthy life. The way to reach that stage is as follows:
- Stepping down – The first step towards quitting is to decrease the level of nicotine in e-cigarettes. It will allow tapering off of nicotine and assist in completely stopping the consumption.
- External Support – You may not be able to do it alone and would need an external support system in place. Having supportive friends and family can make the process easier for you.
- Counselling – You should consider getting psychological assistance if there are any behavioural issues. The psychologist can help you learn coping mechanisms to handle the situation.
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) – There are a few products available, like gums, patches, and lozenges, that help manage withdrawal symptoms. They provide smaller doses of nicotine that help you decline the consumption while managing sudden withdrawal.
- Medical attention – You can consult a doctor who can prescribe medication to assist you in quitting smoking. These prescribed medications help in managing withdrawal symptoms and make quitting less hard.
- Mindfulness – During these high-stress times, practising mindfulness or other stress-reducing activities can help you stay stronger. It can also help you handle triggers that might nudge you to vape.
These are a few methods that can potentially help you quit the habit and lead a healthier life.
Bottom Line
Vaping is a new hype that needs to be tackled carefully. You need to understand the various harmful effects of vaping. At the same time, you should be aware of the deleterious effects of vaping on sexual health.
You can lead a healthy lifestyle by quitting the habit. Seek medical attention if you cannot get to stop the habit.