Millions of people in the UK have turned to vaping as a way to quit smoking, but the health risks associated with this habit remain a topic of debate. Despite its popularity, vaping has raised concerns, especially among young people who have never smoked before. Reports of hospitalisations due to vaping-related illnesses have emerged, with some serious cases leading to death. In a bid to understand the real impacts of vaping, TV presenter Jordan North took on a mission to explore the dangers of e-cigarettes in a new BBC documentary.
Vaping has become a popular alternative to smoking after Public Health England marketed e-cigarettes as less harmful than traditional tobacco cigarettes. However, experts warn that vaping is not risk-free, and more long-term studies are needed to determine its impact on heart and blood vessels. While some studies suggest that vaping may be less harmful than smoking, there is still a lack of understanding on the long-term health impacts of this practice. Illegal and counterfeit vapes have been found to contain harmful chemicals and metals, leading to serious health consequences.
Smoking cigarettes has been linked to various health problems, including over 100 different diseases such as cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. Nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive, and smoking is responsible for two out of every three deaths caused by tobacco. In comparison, vaping devices heat a liquid containing nicotine and flavorings to create a vapor that users inhale. While vapes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide like cigarettes do, the long-term effects of vaping are still being studied.
Concerns over youth vaping have also been raised, with reports of teenagers vaping in schools and being hospitalized due to vaping-related illnesses. Parents and teachers are worried about the accessibility of vapes to young people, especially with the rise of disposable vapes in the market. Disposable vapes have been prohibited by the UK government to prevent young people from getting addicted to nicotine. The impact of vaping on the developing brains of adolescents remains a topic of interest among researchers and health experts.
Health professionals advise smokers to quit using NHS support and nicotine replacement treatments instead of switching to vapes. While vaping may be considered a lesser evil compared to smoking, caution is still advised when it comes to the potential risks of e-cigarettes. Researchers continue to investigate the long-term effects of vaping on heart, blood vessels, and lungs. In the meantime, promoting smoke-free environments and educating people on the risks associated with smoking and vaping is essential in reducing the burden of smoking-related diseases on individuals and society.
