Vaping: What is it, and what are the risks?

Vaping has become very popular in recent years. Marketing vapes as the “healthier” alternative to smoking has made it appealing to those looking to quit (or avoid starting) cigarette smoking. However, there’s still a lot of mystery around what vaping is, how it works, and the potential impacts on health.

So, what exactly is vaping?

Vaping is the act of inhaling an aerosol from an electric device. The aerosol is composed of nicotine, artificial flavouring, and various chemicals that relax users. The mode of delivery is meant to be more favourable than a cigarette.

There’s a wide variety of devices that users can choose from. These include disposable e-cigarettes, e-cigarettes with prefilled or refillable cartridges, tanks, or pods. Additionally, there are various methods of vaping, including mouth-to-lung, direct-to-lung, and restricted direct-to-lung. Mouth-to-lung involves inhaling vapour into the mouth and then the lungs. Direct-to-lung involves inhaling vapour directly into the lungs. Finally, restricted direct-to-lung is a hybrid of both.

Why do people vape?

An individual might start vaping for many reasons. The belief that vaping is less harmful than smoking, that it can help with quitting smoking, that it’s a cheaper option than cigarettes, and that it comes in appealing flavours are all reasons why someone might start vaping. It can also result from peer pressure, trend following, experimentation, boredom, or relaxation.

Is vaping safer than smoking?

Just as with traditional cigarettes, vaping exposes your body to nicotine, which is harmful to your health and can lead to physical dependence and addiction.

Most of the risks associated with traditional cigarettes and smoking patterns can also be associated with vaping. What people might not know is that vaping can pose a greater risk than cigarettes, as vaping pens or e-cigarettes can contain higher amounts of nicotine than a traditional cigarette!

Nicotine is responsible for creating cravings and withdrawal symptoms, which makes quitting extremely challenging. This means that anyone who starts vaping is at risk of becoming physically dependent on nicotine, which can eventually lead to nicotine addiction.

When vaping, nicotine is absorbed through the lungs, which then allows it to quickly through the bloodstream, entering the brain and other organs of the body. This may cause short-term blood pressure and heart rate increases in the minutes and hours after use. Teens and young adults are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of nicotine since brain development continues throughout adolescence and into early adulthood.

Is nicotine the only concern?

Vaping pens and e-cigarettes produce a vaping aerosol, sometimes referred to as "vapour". Don’t be mistaken; this is not water vapour. This aerosol contains potentially harmful chemicals like glycerol and propylene glycol, which are used for flavouring. While these ingredients are considered safe for cosmetics and foods, the long-term risks of inhaling these substances are unknown and continue to be researched.

While the most common side effects of vaping are throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough, and nausea, there is also a much greater risk. The vaping process involves heat, and at high temperatures, PG and glycerol break down to form new chemical aldehydes such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein, which are dangerous.

Some metal contaminants such as nickel, chromium, tin, and aluminum can also make their way into the aerosol as the metal heating element in vaping products age. The chemicals and metals mentioned have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.

More research is being done to establish any connection between long-term vaping and cardiovascular, respiratory, and other diseases.

Did you know…

• Bystanders can be exposed to the aerosol exhaled by people who vape.
• If you vape, you are three times more likely to pick up smoking.
• E-cigarettes are just as addictive as traditional cigarettes.

Where can you find support for reducing or quitting nicotine use?

• The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH): Nicotine Dependence Clinic
• Lakeridge Health: Pinewood Addiction Services
• Canadian Cancer Society: Smokers’ Helpline
• Smoke Free Curious