Vaping Myths Debunked

We are living in a world where we are constantly bombarded with data from sources like television, press, and the internet. It is significant to note that not all the news we consume is to be trusted.

It turns out, there are a lot of misconceptions revolving around e-cigarettes too that are only creating confusion. Separating facts from fiction is essential!

In this blog, we will debunk a lot of vaping myths that are associated with e-cigarettes, which would also help new vapers to get a clear picture of what vaping is all about. So, let us begin.


Myth 1: Vaping Gives You Popcorn Lung

For those who don’t know what a Popcorn lung is, it is a condition that damages the lungs’ tiny airways and makes a person cough and feels short of breath.

This was first noticed when a few workers while working in a microwave popcorn factory developed this condition when they inhaled high amounts of diacetyl, a constituent that gives popcorn its buttery flavour. That’s why it was named as popcorn lung.

Similarly, diacetyl is added (not anymore) in certain e-liquids to provide the same buttery flavours. However, the level of the diacetyl in the e-liquids is hundreds of times lower than in cigarette smoke. Even at these levels, smoking is not considered to be a cause for this rare disease.

Myth 2: E-Cigarettes are Harmful as They Contain Nicotine

A lot of smokers, as well as ex-smokers, think that nicotine is actually the reason for most tobacco-related cancer. However, studies have shown that nicotine, in reality, causes only minimal health risk. In traditional cigarettes, thousands of other toxic chemicals cause almost all the harm.

A great thing about e-cigarettes is that they don't contain carbon monoxide and tar, which are two of the hazardous elements in tobacco smoke. It does carry other elements of the standard cigarettes but at relatively lower levels.

Myth 3: E-Cigarettes make you smoke

This is a myth that has gained a lot of media attention as both cigarettes and e-cigarettes are similar in appearance. On the contrary, e-cigarettes can be a good way to quit smoking as these gadgets have the facility for tweaking the nicotine levels.

Myth 4: Vaping is as Bad as Smoking

Another myth associated with vaping is that it causes the same harm that smoking does. However, when you light a cigarette, dry tobacco starts burning which emanates over 3000 harmful chemicals as smoke. On the other side, in vaping, e-liquid heats and produces a vapour.

Also, the ingredients used in the e-liquids are basic elements that are almost harmless when compared to the toxic chemicals inside tobacco. There are also various studies that validate the safety of e-cigarettes over the usage of traditional cigarettes.

Myth 5: E-Cigarettes are Being Used as a Trojan Horse by Tobacco Industry to Keep People Continue with Smoking

This is a false claim as e-cigarettes do not incorporate any tobacco in it. In fact, many people are even using e-cigarettes to get rid of their addiction to tobacco.

Moreover, there are various findings that reveal the role of vaping and other nicotine replacement approaches as a way to help smokers quit. The studies showed that smoking cessation was observed in people who were using e-cigarettes and other nicotine replacement techniques. Hence it is completely bogus to say that the tobacco industry is using E-cigarettes as a Trojan horse to keep people smoking.

Myth 6: Exposure to E-Cigarette Vapour is Harmful to Bystanders

Unlike many reports of the risks of second-hand smoke from Tobacco Cigarettes, there has been no data that suggest the health risks of passive vaping to the health of bystanders.

This is because an e-liquid is generally composed of nicotine, vegetable glycerine, propylene glycol, and flavourings, where it is exhaled into the atmosphere as an aerosol.

Myth 7: Vaping is Only about Big Clouds

Even though intense clouds are one of the reasons why people vape, it is not the only reason. As mentioned previously, there are vapers who use e-cigarettes to quit smoking, and there are also others who prefer a more discreet experience while using it. The variety of devices available today takes the vaping experiences of the user to a whole new level. The world of vaping is indeed becoming more personalized and user-friendly.

Myth 8: Vaping is More Expensive than Cigarettes

While it may be true that the initial costs of e-cigarette could be a little higher than cigarettes, the long term costs of vaping is much cheaper. This is primarily because buying e-liquid is far more economical than buying a pack of cigarettes.

Myth 9: E-Liquid Consists of Toxic Anti-Freeze

This is one of the biggest myths surrounding e-cigarettes, which is probably because vape juice and anti-freeze share a common ingredient, which is propylene glycol. But the claim of this anti-freeze being toxic is nothing short of silliness. It is important to know that the same propylene glycol is also found in commonly used foods like frosting and candy. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), propylene glycol is absolutely safe for ingestion by humans.

To Summarize

Most of the myths surrounding the e-cigarettes exist because a lot of us believe that vaping and smoking are the same, while they are not. They look similar, but their mode of functioning is completely different. It is also a fact that e-cigarettes are helping thousands of smokers to remain smoke-free!

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