Published August 2, 2023
Vaping - or the use of e-cigarettes - is not any less dangerous than smoking. It can increase the risk of health concerns including cancer, asthma and blood pressure. Know the dangers and risks associated with vaping so you can make informed choices.
It’s a common misconception that vaping cartridges only include nicotine and an artificial flavoring. However, the reality is that e-cigarettes contain many harmful chemicals.
E-cigarette juice contains carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) and heavy metals like tin and nickel. It also contains vitamin E acetate, which is responsible for lung injury, as well as chemicals that are linked to lung disease like diacetyl, acrolein and diethylene glycol (Cleveland Clinic)
Health Risks
Vaping can cause or worsen existing asthma, raise blood pressure, narrow arteries and hurt brain development. E-cigarette juices also contain chemicals that can raise the risk of cancer and cause permanent lung scarring, known as “popcorn lung.” E-cigarettes can also cause EVALI, a potentially fatal e-cigarette or vaping-as.sociated lung injury which causes symptoms like chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and lung damage (Cleveland Clinic).
Quitting Vaping
Have you wanted to quit vaping or tried but been unsuccessful? Your Life Iowa can help. Quitting a substance can be difficult. There’s often many challenges along the way. It might even take multiple tries. But there are steps you can take to support your recovery journey.
Before quitting, you can increase your chances of success by having a plan in place and a reason for “why” you’re quitting. Talk to a counselor or healthcare provider, they can help to create a plan and also provide resources and medications to help make quitting easier.
When you quit nicotine, you may experience withdrawal symptoms including irritability, restlessness, anxiety, headaches, trouble sleeping, increased hunger and trouble focusing. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, know that they won’t last forever and it will get easier (Smoke Free).
Other tips to help with quitting include getting regular exercise or finding distractions from vaping, using nicotine gum or patches, and telling friends and family of your plans to quit so they can help hold you accountable (Cleveland Clinic).
If you have a concern or question about substance use, our knowledge, nonjudgmental counselors are available 24/7, every day of the year.