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Vaping: A Deep Dive
The Allure of Vaping
Vaping, particularly with nicotine, is seen by some as a less harmful alternative to
smoking, delivering nicotine which has several effects:
Improves attention, concentration, memory, reaction time, and endurance.
Reduces anxiety and stress, promoting relaxation and mood enhancement.
Suppresses hunger, aiding in weight management.
Provides a sensory experience.
Compared to smoking, vaping is considered less harmful because it avoids the direct
inhalation of hot smoke and toxic particles into the lungs.
Vaping Trends
While smoking is declining in the West, vaping is increasing, especially among teens:
UK (2023): 20% of children have tried vaping.
US: 8% of students vape regularly, with 25% vaping daily, often using flavored
vapes.
How Vaping Works
A vape consists of a tank of liquid heated by a metallic coil, creating a vapor.
Major Ingredients:
Propylene glycol and glycerol (common in smoke machines).
Nicotine salts.
Flavor molecules.
When inhaled, the heated liquid turns into an aerosol, a mist of large molecules and
microscopic particles mixed with air. This aerosol coats the mouth, enters the lungs,
and delivers nicotine into the bloodstream via the alveoli.
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The Unknown Contents of Vapes
The exact composition of vape liquids is often unclear, with studies revealing many
unlisted substances. The vaping industry is less regulated than one might expect.
Officially Safe Substances: Many substances are used in cosmetics, medicine,
or food and are considered safe for those applications but not necessarily for
inhalation.
Cinnamaldehyde: Found in cinnamon oil, kills cells and causes genetic
damage when inhaled.
Benzaldehyde: Found in almonds or apples, irritates the respiratory tract
as a gas.
Unknown Substances: The effects of many vape juice substances when heated
are unknown. Heating can cause molecules to merge or break down, creating
new, potentially harmful compounds. Overheating propylene glycol and
glycerol can produce harmful molecules, signaled by a burnt taste.
Metal Particles: Heating the metallic coil releases particles like aluminum,
boron, calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, lead, chromium, nickel, and
manganese into the vapor. These can cause lung irritation, chronic bronchitis,
and shortness of breath. Nickel is a known carcinogen when inhaled.
Health Effects of Vaping
The long-term health effects of vaping are still largely unknown, as vaping has only
been around for about a decade. Most studies focus on smokers switching to vapes.
Switching from Smoking: Reduces the risk of disease significantly.
Starting as a Non-Smoker:
Short-Term Effects: Include poor breathing symptoms, coughing, mucus
production, shortness of breath, wheezing, throat, and chest pain.
Long-Term Effects: Largely unknown; large-scale studies on non-smokers
who vape started in 2024.
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Vaping may trigger the immune system, leading to inflammation and fluid in the
lungs, causing extra mucus production. It may also increase heart rate and blood
pressure, lower blood oxygen, and cause oxidative stress, potentially leading to
various diseases over time.
Nicotine and the Teenage Brain
Vaping delivers high doses of nicotine, which can be particularly harmful to teens:
Brain Development: Nicotine may alter brain development by overstimulating
nicotine receptors, potentially leading to cognitive deficits, hyperactivity,
reduced impulse control, and mood disorders.
Gateway Drug: While some studies suggested nicotine as a gateway drug, it's
more likely that people prone to risk-taking are more likely to use various
addictive substances.
Nicotine Withdrawal
Quitting nicotine can be challenging due to significant withdrawal symptoms:
Physical Symptoms: Include edginess, intense cravings, mood swings, anxiety,
difficulty sleeping, fatigue, headaches, and trouble concentrating.
Psychological Addiction: Vaping can be highly habit-forming, leading to
intense psychological addiction.
Reversibility: Withdrawal symptoms are temporary. Nicotine leaves the
body in about 72 hours, and the worst symptoms fade within a few
weeks.
The Vaping Dilemma
Vaping has become a complex issue with both potential benefits and significant risks.
Initial Benefits
Switching from cigarettes to vapes is beneficial for global health because it reduces
exposure to harmful chemicals found in traditional cigarettes.
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⚠︎ The Downside of Vaping
Vaping has led to a new wave of nicotine addiction, especially among younger
generations.
The Psychology of Addiction
Providing information about the dangers of vaping might be ineffective due to the
nature of addiction:
Addicted individuals use nicotine to combat stress; therefore, stressing
them about their coping mechanism could lead to increased usage.
The Appeal to Teens
The attractiveness of vaping to teens is due to:
New and appealing flavors, such as bubblegum
The perception that vaping is less harmful than traditional smoking
The Importance of Reliable Information
Making informed health decisions requires access to reliable information, which can
be challenging due to:
Algorithms that curate information
Sensationalized headlines that overshadow factual reporting
Ground News: An Independent News Source
Ground News aims to provide an unbiased view of news by:
Gathering news from various sources worldwide
Enabling users to compare coverage
Presenting a comprehensive perspective
Founder's Inspiration
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The founder of Ground News was motivated by:
Observing bias in news reporting across different media outlets during
chemotherapy treatment.
Example: Vaping Study in England
A study in England claimed that 1 million non-smokers started vaping.
Ground News highlighted the limited coverage of this study compared to the
extensive reporting on the FDA's initial authorization of vaping products.
This comparison provides perspective on the significance and framing of the
story.
Kurzgesagt's Human Era Calendar
The Human Era Calendar is described as:
A product of shared history
A source of inspiration
A yearly tradition for many
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