In the present world scenario, choosing the one between smoking and vaping is seen as making a choice between two evils.Often it is observed that in the case of marketing of e-cigarettes, usually highlight them as comparatively better options. The reality is far different and complex from this when seen in clinical settings like CritiCare Hospital. Both of these habits pose significant loss and risk to the respiratory system. Having a basic knowledge of how these affect our lung tissues is the first as well as the foremost important step toward making an informed and healthy decision for good health in the long term.
The mechanism of harm: Smoke vs Vaping
In order to understand which thing causes more harm or is more dangerous, it becomes crucial to know what we are inhaling. Traditional cigarettes follow a mechanism of combustion, so when you light a cigarette it means you are burning tobacco leaves which create smoke and you inhale it. This smoke contains around 7000 chemicals and out of them around 70 are the known carcinogens. This smoke also produces a little amount of carbon monoxide and a sticky residue called tar that sticks to the tiny hair in our lungs. When this tar gets stuck to the hairs in lungs it prevents them from clearing the mucus and dirt. This further hampers the smooth functioning of the lungs in the long run.
While vaping on the other hand, uses a phenomenon called as aerosolization. In this process, a battery is used to heat a liquid until it forms vapors. This procedure avoids the production of sticky substance tar, but still it’s not good to think that it is safe as the liquid contains nicotine, propylene glycol base or vegetable glycerin and flavorings. As they are heated, they produce toxic formaldehydes and other toxic aldehydes. The metal heating plates which are used in this process can sometimes leak harmful heavy metals like nickel, tin, lead etc. which we directly inhale.
Traditional form of smoking acting as a slow poison:
Smoking is always considered as an unhealthy option as it possesses a significant loss to the lungs. At CritiCare hospital, we frequently see the following long term health impacts of the cigarette usage:
Increased risk of the infection:
This refers to the fact that smoking almost paralyzes and hampers the lung’s natural cleaning process, making the smoker more prone to pneumonia, tuberculosis and other complications.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:
Smoking destroys the air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult for the body to to exchange oxygen. It includes the cases of chronic bronchitis as well as emphysema.
Lung Cancer:
Smoking is one of the most common causes for lung cancer worldwide. The repeated and prolonged exposure to tho carcinogens lead to the mutations in the lung cells. This mutation eventually results in tumors.
Smoking possesses significant, predictable and irreversible damage to the respiratory system in most of the cases.
The Acute and Unknown Risks of Vaping
As vaping is a new phenomenon it also comes with its own set of new challenges. At present, we do not have any proper well researched data of like 30-40 years about its impact in the long run or possible threats that it possesses. However, some of harmful effects observed in the last few years are as follows:
- EVALI ( E- cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury):Vaping is connected to acute, life-threatening lung injury. It is different from smoking, which usually takes several years to cause severe illness.EVALI leads to respiratory failures. It involves and requires ventilation as well as intensive care.
- Popcorn Lung: Some of the liquids that are used to make vapours in vaping, contain diacetyl for flavoring purposes. This causes narrowing of the airways in the lungs. This narrowing is irreversible as well as permanent and results in shortness of breath.
- In the patients who are already suffering from conditions like asthma or reactive airway disease it is observed that vaping triggers severe attacks rapidly as compared to cigarettes as vaping contains aerosol.
Vaping is concerned with its high concentration of harmful chemical which pose serious healthcare concerns
Let’s see which one is worse for your lungs?
It is said that vaping is comparatively safer than smoking, yet it is not good to say that less harmful does not mean it’s safe. Traditionally, cigarettes contain more toxic chemicals.Most of the heart associations and UK’s NHS agree that switching on to vaping reduces certain toxins intake for an existing smoker.
If we see from a clinical perspective at CritiCare, dangers of vaping are often underestimated as it doesn’t smell or causes immediate throat burn like cigarettes. It is also often observed that the individuals opt for both smoking and vaping. This dual-use increases the nicotine concentration and variety of toxins, and puts the lungs under a double prolonged attack. In case of new or young or never smokers, vaping is also not a good alternative as it also leads to nicotine-addiction and intake of lung-clogging chemicals.
The Role of Nicotine beyond Just Addiction
Both the methods, smoking and vaping involve nicotine intake. Nicotine itself isn’t the sole and only reason behind lung cancer but is definitely a contributor. This affects the blood flow as well as the body’s ability to repair damaged tissue. Nicotine intake increases the risks of complications in the patients which are recovering from any diseases or lung cancer.
A Way to Good Lung Health
It is good to say that lungs are remarkably resilient, but they are only designed to breathe clean air. Things like pollution, smoking, vaping pose significant challenges to the normal and fruitful functioning of the lungs. They hamper the lungs’ productivity. For the ones who are chain smokers it’s better to switch to vaping on a temporary basis but in the case of never-smokers, it is advised to not start vaping under just social or image pressure.
Some of the useful tips for protecting the lungs include:
- It is good for regular smokers to have regular lung tests to ensure healthy and happy living.
- Dual usage should be avoided as it only severs the complications. This dual-usage refers to the usage of both smoking and vaping.
- Physical activities and a good nutritious diet also play a crucial role in keeping the lungs healthy.
Conclusion
Smoking is quite similar to the slow poison that kills the person while vaping is like an unpredictable chemical leak which causes a sudden explosion. Both the things should be avoided as health is wealth. Your lungs are your life support system.
