While vaping has been seen as a better alternative to smoking, there are still several health risks that you need to be aware of. Here are a few concerns that many studies have raised around vaping over the past few years.
Still Not Safe
While vaping is still better than smoking cigarettes, it is still not considered safe. The inhalation of smoke or toxins in any way is still bad for your lungs, and learning how to quit vaping can help protect you against any long-term damage.
More research still needs to be done, but there have been enough studies to show that vaping is still not the safe alternative that it has been pushed as.
Heart & Lung Health
Smoking has been shown to have a detrimental effect on your heart and lungs, and considering that vaping has similar properties, it is safe to say that vaping for a long period can damage your heart and lungs.
The biggest problem is that it hasn’t been popular for long enough to researchers to fully understand how much damage it can cause.
Addiction
Another massive concern for researchers and experts is the fact that vaping is just as, if not more, addictive than smoking. The smell and taste of cigarettes is incredibly off-putting to many, but that can’t be said for vaping.
With all the different flavors and how “enjoyable” vaping is for many, it is much harder to kick the habit, and therefore, there is a much higher chance of causing long-term damage.
It isn’t a Cure
Finally, while not necessarily a health risk, it is important to note that vaping is in no way a cure for smoking. Many studies have shown that those who start to vape don’t do it as a way to eventually quit smoking completely, but rather as an alternative that they turn to just as much as cigarettes.
Because of this, quitting is even harder, and therefore, there isn’t less of a chance of long-term harm, but the type of harm is different.
How to Quit E-Cigarettes
If you are looking to break your vaping habit, here are a few tips and steps you can take to make the process of quitting easier, but to also make it sustainable.
Choose a Timeframe
First off, decide on a date you want to quit by. This will not only give you the motivation to try and quit, but it will also give you some time to do it how and when you want to. However, it is important to make it a reasonable timeframe.
For example, saying “I will quit next week” is almost setting yourself up for failure, while saying “I will quit by the end of next year” is far too much time.
Cold Turkey or Not
Next, you have to decide if you want to go cold turkey, or slowly quit vaping. On the one hand, cold turkey will help you quit sooner, but you could relapse due to the severe cravings you will experience.
On the other hand, quitting slowly allows your body to adjust, but you have to be more strict on yourself as you have to ensure you are lowering your consumption on a regular basis.
Identify Triggers
You also need to take the time to identify what triggers your vaping habit. As in, what situations are you in that make you want to vape, or which feelings trigger the need to smoke?
For example, do you smoke when you’re stressed, bored, need something to do with your hands, etc. Once you know your triggers, you will be better equipped to avoid them, or deal with them in a different way.
Deal with Cravings
Cravings are the number one reason why many fail to quit smoking, and you should have a plan in place to deal with them. This can range from breathing exercises, to taking a walk, or doing push-ups until the craving subsides.
The goal is to trick your brain into focusing on something else until the strong craving has either completely disappeared, or has become easier to handle.
Handle Stress
Stress is another massive reason why people smoke or vape, and is one of the most common triggers around. Because of this, it is essential to find ways to deal with stress that don’t involve vaping or nicotine.
Try multiple options, but whatever you do, find a healthy outlet for stress that will give you the same feeling of calm and relaxation that smoking and nicotine do.
Give Yourself Leeway
Always remember to give yourself a little bit of leeway. If you haven’t tried to quit before, or you’ve really struggled to quit in the past, then it is important to remember that slipping every now and then is ok.
Always keep in mind that having a puff or two only when you really can’t deal with the cravings anymore, is far better than vaping consistently throughout the day.
Use Nicotine Alternatives
Finally, if you want to give up vaping but aren’t ready to give up nicotine just yet, spend some time looking for nicotine alternatives. Two of the best alternatives are nicotine gum, or nicotine patches.
These will help you deal with your nicotine cravings, while also allowing you to stay away from smoking and vaping as a whole.
