Vaping and smoking are increasingly popular among young people. But is vaping really less harmful than smoking? Learn about the differences and dangers of both.

Smoking and vaping are trending among young people. Like the craze for tea and coffee a few years ago, young people are now hooked on smoking and vaping. Cigarettes, hookahs, and bidis are easily available for smoking, while the trend of E-cigarettes, Vape Pens, or Pod Devices has increased significantly in big cities. Today, we'll delve into this growing trend, explaining the difference between smoking and E-cigarettes and which one is more harmful.

What is Smoking?

Smoking involves burning tobacco and inhaling the smoke. This smoke contains nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, and over 70 carcinogenic chemicals.

What is Vaping?

Vaping is an electronic process where an E-cigarette, Vape Pen, or Pod Device heats a special liquid (E-liquid or Vape Juice) to create vapor that is inhaled. This E-liquid often consists of nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals.

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Vaping vs. Smoking

Source of Nicotine

  • Smoking: Burning tobacco
  • Vaping: Nicotine added to E-liquid

Method

  • Smoking: Inhaling smoke from burning tobacco
  • Vaping: Inhaling vapor from heated liquid

Smell

  • Smoking: Strong and long-lasting
  • Vaping: Mild or flavored

Chemicals

  • Smoking: Over 7000 chemicals, many carcinogenic
  • Vaping: 100-200 chemicals, many unsafe

Health Effects

  • Smoking: Lungs, heart, brain, cancer
  • Vaping: Respiratory illness, heart problems, nicotine addiction

Risk to Others

  • Smoking: Harm from passive smoking
  • Vaping: Secondhand vaping risk is lower but present

Which is More Dangerous?

Smoking

  • Proven long-term harm: Lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, reduced fertility.
  • According to WHO, tobacco use kills 8 million people each year.
  • Smoking contains chemicals like carbon monoxide and tar that directly damage the lungs.

Vaping

  • A newer trend, but harmful effects are emerging.
  • Cases of EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping product use-associated Lung Injury) have increased.
  • Nicotine addiction from vaping is spreading rapidly among the younger generation.
  • Long-term use has adverse effects on the heart and lungs.

Experts’ View

  • Considering vaping safe is wrong; it's slightly different from traditional smoking, but the dangers are now clear.
  • According to Dr. Randeep Guleria (Former AIIMS Director), "Young people are using vaping more, considering it safe, but it's rapidly increasing nicotine addiction and lung disease."
  • Both WHO and CDC consider vaping harmful to health.

Conclusion: Staying Away from Both is Best!

  • Both smoking and vaping increase nicotine dependence.
  • They harm the body's natural lung and blood systems.
  • Try quitting, seek medical advice, and consider options like Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).