Cigarette Or Vape Which Is Better?
In most cases, people switch to vaping from smoking when they decide to quit smoking. Since vaping doesn’t feel the same as smoking and it costs less as well, you may wonder, cigarette or vape which is better? Are e-cigarettes healthier than cigarettes?
Different studies showed that e-cigarettes are more helpful for smokers trying to quit than using patches or gum. Because of this, the FDA recently allowed a company to sell e-cigarettes in the US to adults who already smoke.
The FDA says these e-cigarettes are a better choice for health because they have fewer harmful ingredients than regular cigarettes.
However, this is not the full picture. Please keep reading the content to understand the both sides of the coin.
Cigarette vs Vape- Quick Comparison
Comparison Factors | Vaping | Smoking |
Medium | Electronic cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), or personal vaporizer (PV). | Cigarette. |
Does It Contain Nicotine? | Usually contains nicotine but nicotine-free liquids are also available. | Yes. |
Is It Addictive? | For nicotine liquids, the answer is yes. | Yes. |
Does It Cause Lingering Odour? | No. | Yes. |
Does It Have Carbon Monoxide? | No. | Yes. |
Detailed Differences Between Smoking and Vaping
Now, here’s a detailed set of information for you regarding smoking vs vaping.
Introduction
Smoking is a common practice where users burn tobacco and inhale its smoke. Typically, cigarettes come inside rolled paper and they are mostly a blend of tobacco. There are filters on the end of many cigarettes that are made of cellulose acetate.
On the other hand, the use of e-cigarettes is known as ‘vaping’. E-cigarettes or electronic cigarettes do not burn tobacco as cigarettes. E-cigarettes are devices (battery-powered) that heat up liquid into an aerosol. Vapers inhale the aerosol into the lungs.
Ingredients
Although vaping is not completely harmless, cigarettes contain more harmful substances compared to e-cigarettes. According to research, cigarettes create more than 7,000 chemicals when you burn them. And, 69 of these chemicals are toxic and carcinogenic.
The most dangerous chemicals found in cigarettes are nicotine, tar, arsenic, carbon monoxide, acetone, ammonia, methylamine, toluene, and even pesticides.
All of the chemicals are highly toxic and cause serious health conditions. The blood of smokers carries 15% carbon monoxide instead of oxygen.
E-cigarettes may or may not have nicotine, it depends on different brands and manufacturers. But they must contain toxic heavy metals such as lead and nickel. Also, sweet flavouring chemicals in e-cigarettes can be appealing to teenagers.
Moreover, some volatile organic compounds, carcinogenic compounds, and ultrafine particles are found in e-cigarettes.
Cost
Vaping is potentially cheaper than smoking depending on the different types of vape devices you use. Below is a breakdown of the yearly costs for each category:
Pack of cigarettes a day: The yearly cost of smoking a pack of cigarettes daily ranges from $2,087.80 to $5,091.75.
Sub Ohm Devices: These are advanced vapes that produce a large amount of vapour. The yearly cost ranges from $618.25 to $5,082.50.
Closed Pod Mods: These are pre-filled, disposable vape pods. The yearly cost ranges from $1,095 to $1,825.
Open Pod Mods: These are refillable vape pods. The yearly cost ranges from $697.22 to $1,006.69.
Cig-a-likes: These are refillable vapes designed to resemble cigarettes. The yearly cost ranges from $620.50 to $2,190.
Now, it’s clear like daylight that the cost of vaping is less than cigarettes no matter which type of device you use.
Environmental Impact
A lot of research mentions the significant environmental impact of tobacco. The environmental cost of a single person smoking for 50 years, leads to over 5 tons of CO2 emissions, massive water usage, and substantial fossil fuel depletion.
Moreover, the use of fertilizers and pesticides in tobacco farming pollutes water sources and harms soil health. Cigarette production generates hazardous waste that can further pollute the environment.
Vaping is also responsible for environmental pollution, especially disposable e-cigarettes cause more harm.
Studies show that vaping devices contain plastic, electronic waste, and hazardous chemicals. These components are not biodegradable and can cause harm to the environment if not disposed of properly.
Health Effects of Cigarettes and Vapes
Now, let’s talk about the health risks that cigarettes and vaping cause. Although e-cigarettes contain fewer harmful ingredients and are considered a healthy alternative to cigarettes, they are not utterly safe to inhale.
Additionally, the long-term effects of e-cigarettes are still unknown. Here we will walk you through the health effects of cigarettes and e-cigarettes aka smoking and vaping.
Risks and Long-Term Effects of Smoking
According to the CDC, NHS, and cancer.org, smoking can cause below-mentioned harm to your body.
Smoking is responsible for about 20% of all cancers and 30% of all cancer deaths in the US (American Cancer Society). It's linked to various cancers, including lung, mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, and more.
Smoking is a leading cause of heart disease. It damages blood vessels, increases blood pressure, and raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Smoking severely damages your lungs. It can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, making it difficult to breathe.
Long-term effects of smoking are decreased stamina, reduced sense of smell and taste, reduction of sperm count, weak immune system, risk of a stroke, wrinkles & premature ageing, and so on.
Risks and Long-Term Effects of Vaping
With the help of Michael Joseph Blaha, M.D., M.P.H., Michel Corban, MD, and other health specialists, here are the risks and long-term effects vaping can cause.
Vaping can irritate the lungs and cause inflammation, coughing, and shortness of breath. Some vaping liquids contain a substance called diacetyl in them. Diacetyl has been linked to a serious lung condition called "popcorn lung" which scars your airways. This can make breathing difficult.
E-liquids, the liquid used in vapes, can contain various chemicals, including nicotine (addictive), heavy metals, ultrafine particles, and flavourings. The long-term effects of inhaling these chemicals are unknown.
Nicotine in e-cigarettes is highly addictive which can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms. This is particularly alarming for teens whose brains are still developing.
The long-term effects of vaping are widely unknown. But there's indeed no guarantee it's safer than smoking in the long run.
What Happens If You Use Low-Quality Vape?
If you’re determined to switch to vaping from cigarettes, it’s a must to avoid low-quality vaping products. Why? It’s because low-quality vapes use unreliable materials or they lack proper safety features. This can cause overheating, malfunction, and even explosions.
Low-quality vapes also can contain harmful chemicals or contaminants that leach into the vapour you inhale. So, you’re ultimately compromising your health even after quitting cigarettes.
For this, go for reputable manufacturers who prioritise safety standards and use reliable materials. Vapedazzle can be a trusted place inside UAE in this case. Vapedazzle’s vaping products are not cheap and do not break easily.
By choosing high-quality vapes that are built to last, you can eventually save money in the long run.
Final Words
Now you know the answer to cigarette or vape which is better?
Although vaping is less harmful compared to smoking, there are still some risks and health impacts. If you want to use vaping as a way of quitting smoking, it’s not the wisest decision. Instead, seek professional support who can help you understand triggers and strategies to overcome cravings.
Good luck!
