Vaping vs. smoking: which is safer?

29. 04. 2024

Warning: we are in no way encouraging or supporting smoking or nicotine addiction. If you are a non-smoker, don't start. Nicotine is extremely addictive. This article is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.

Risks of smoking

Does conventional cigarettes ring a bell? Declining sales and long-standing criticisms from doctors and scientists point to the negative health effects of smoking. They increase the risk of cancer, accelerate the development of atherosclerosis and a range of other increasingly common cardiovascular diseases. According to experts, cigarette smoking has a negative impact on:

Lungs
The brain
Blood vessels
Heart
Skin
Teeth
Hair
Digestive system
Fertility

Wondering why cigarette smoking has such an impact on human health? Studies show that burning tobacco releases more than 7,000 substances, some of which are considered carcinogenic, and therefore this activity is also linked to an increased risk of stroke and various other health complications.

Dangerous substances

Regular smoking exposes users to hazardous substances such as carbon monoxide, nitrosamines and other volatile organic compounds. These include, for example:

Ammonia
Arsenic
Tar
Lead
Hydrogen cyanide

Both ammonia and hydrogen cyanide contribute to inflammation of the skin, eyes or lungs. Both arsenic and lead negatively affect the hematopoietic and nervous systems, kidneys and immune mechanisms. Tar is a mixture of several chemicals that are deposited throughout the respiratory tract and impair overall lung function and capacity.

Vaping as an alternative to cigarettes

It is the high levels of these dangerous substances that worry human health experts the most. Vaping is therefore an increasingly popular alternative, which many scientists believe is less harmful than conventional cigarettes.

Why? Because vaping does not burn anything, unlike conventional cigarettes. No harmful by-products are produced that irritate the lungs, mouth or throat. The flavour and the active ingredients are released through the vapour using a special device such as a vaping pen or portable vaporizer.

The idea behind vaporisation is to heat herbal mixtures, liquids or other substances to a temperature at which the active ingredients begin to evaporate. Although scientific studies show that vaping is more beneficial to human health than conventional cigarettes, there are risks.

While most substances inhaled during vaping have not yet been shown to be harmful to health, it is important to be aware that this may be the case in the future. For example:

Propylene glycol
Citric acid
Diethylglycol
Vegetable glycerin

Table comparing smoking vs. vaping

	Smoking	Vaping
Health	Proven negative impact on health. Risk of many diseases including cancer and heart disease.	Less harmful than smoking, but long-term effects are not fully proven scientifically.
Creation of dependence	Contains the addictive substance nicotine, which causes physical and psychological dependence.	Developing an addiction is possible but less likely than with smoking. Moreover, with nicotine-free vapes, the risk of developing an addiction is lower.
Exposure to harmful substances	Smoke contains many chemicals, many of which are both toxic and carcinogenic.	There are fewer harmful substances than smoking, but all the long-term effects have not yet been scientifically proven.
Smell	The typical smell of cigarette smoke.	There is a choice of flavours and scents that can be pleasant to the user and the environment.
Impact on the environment	Passive smokers are exposed to both harmful effects and unpleasant smoke.	The consequences of vaping for the surrounding area are less bothersome.

There are fewer harmful substances

And how does vaping work? The substances are quickly absorbed directly into the bloodstream via the lungs, so the effect is noticeable after just a few minutes.

Many scientific studies have tried to find out what vaping can cause and have concluded that the main differences between smoking and vaping are the different levels of harmful substances.

One of the most recent large-scale scientific studies was presented a few months ago by British experts. It was commissioned by the UK Health Improvement Authority and is one of the most comprehensive scientific summaries of the potential health risks of vaping in the world, as the authors worked with dozens of high-quality studies from around the world.

The decline in disease

The team of tobacco addiction expert Ann McNeill set out to find out just how harmful vaping is. They were able to show that if smokers switch to vaping, they are far less exposed to dangerous toxic substances that lead to dangerous diseases.

But there have been many more similar studies in the past. Other work has also looked at the question of whether vaping is a less risky alternative to smoking, and the conclusions have been similar.

Vaping does not produce the various toxins that are produced by combustion, nor is vaping associated with an increased incidence of respiratory disease compared to conventional smoking.

In any case, studies published by Public Health England and Royal College of Physicians state that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking. These organisations emphasise that, although vaping is not entirely risk-free, it is a more healthful method for smokers.

Other studies, such as the Cochrane Collaboration, have found that vaping can be an effective smoking cessation strategy. In fact, vaping can provide smokers with similar satisfaction.

Risks of vaping

There is a growing body of research looking at the safety of vaping, and some of it comes with some negative conclusions. A study published in the journal Radiology points out that vaping affects blood vessel function even in healthy people. According to the American Heart Association, vaping also does not benefit the heart, and users should keep this in mind.

Although the amount of harmful substances entering the body is significantly reduced compared to smoking tobacco, some studies suggest that vaping may have negative effects on the respiratory system. Users may struggle with coughing or irritated mucous membranes.

It is also important to note that vaping is not suitable for minors. There is concern that vaping in this group may increase the risk of switching to tobacco. It may also adversely affect their brain development, as some studieshave shown.

Nicotine, smoking and vaping

Smoking and vaping have some elements in common. The main one is nicotine, a stimulant drug that speeds up the transmission of messages travelling between the brain and the body. Tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars commonly contain nicotine. But unlike vaping, you can influence the content of this substance by choosing the appropriate liquids.

This is why many users ask how a vape without nicotine is actually harmful. As with regular vape, it is a less health-risky option to cigarettes. The effects on human health are all the less due to the absence of nicotine and the user does not develop such a dependence on vaping.

Nevertheless, even vaping without nicotine contains a number of substances that can affect the human respiratory system. The flavourings used to enhance the enjoyment of vaping can also be potentially harmful.

Vape without nicotine

Nicotine-free vaping is the trend of today. For many people, it is a way to reduce or eliminate their dependence on conventional cigarettes, as well as a way to transition to a healthier lifestyle. Nicotine increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and causes a range of respiratory problems. For women, it increases the risk of miscarriage or premature abortion, as studies have shown.

If you prefer vaping without nicotine, you have a wide choice. First of all, there are the classic CBD flowers. They contain a blend of various cannabinoids that offer relief from physical and mental ailments. CBD flowers are full of terpenes, aromatic compounds that lend cannabis its aroma and contribute to the flavor. These include caryophyllene and myrcene. Although research into terpenes is in its infancy, they have already been shown to have a number of beneficial effects on the human body.

However, it is also possible to vape without nicotine with CBD liquids in the form of refills for a vaporizer, inhaler or even a vaporizer pen. The available CBD liquids do not contain nicotine or THC and therefore have no intoxicating effects. They contain the commonly used substances glycerin and propylene glycol and can be found in a range of concentrations and flavours.

But you can also try CBG products. CBG, as one of the leading cannabinoids, has great potential for anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects and may also be useful in the treatment of glaucoma. It also tends to support appetite. But in any case, CBN cannabinoid products are also worth trying, as they can help with pain management and sleep problems.

And what else can you vape without nicotine? For example, various herbal blends or cannabis crystals, which are extracted from the plants in organic quality and then crystallised in a special laboratory.

But various liquids. are also an option. These include, for example, INHALE CBDex® IMUNIT, which is the ideal choice for boosting the body's defences in the event of reduced immunity. For stress relief, try CBDex Inhale D-PREMA 1 %.

Author: Canatura

Photo: Shutterstock

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