Clearing The Air On Vaping

At the office of North Jersey Pulmonary Associates, our goal is to help patients breathe easier while providing the information and resources they need to maintain optimal respiratory health. 

One of the best ways to protect your health and wellness is to make well-informed decisions. While marketers may tell you one thing about the safety of e-cigarettes, mounting evidence indicates vaping also poses significant risks to your respiratory health and overall well-being.

A not-so-safe alternative to cigarettes

Introduced to the United States around 2007, e-cigarettes offered smokers looking to quit a way to transition away from actual cigarettes and stop the habit altogether. Likewise, adults and teens who never smoked believed vaping provided a satisfying and safer alternative to cigarettes.

How they work

As a mechanical substitute for smoking, e-cigarettes deliver heated nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings, and other chemicals in an inhaled aerosol mist. Yet, even though e-cigarettes contain far fewer toxic chemicals than actual cigarettes, they produce far more than water vapor! With every puff, you’re still exposing yourself to unsafe and damaging chemicals.

While all health consequences have yet to be defined, the following risks are associated with vaping:

• Promoting a nicotine addiction, complete with cravings and related symptoms
• Exposing your lungs to toxic metal particles and other potentially carcinogenic materials
• Producing high nicotine levels that can affect brain function 
• Causing lung injury and irreversible lung damage
• Re-normalizing tobacco use and leading to cigarette smoking instead of cessation 

The danger for teens

For teens, the risks of vaping are even greater. The effect of nicotine on a still-developing brain not only multiplies the potential for addiction, but it can also lead to reduced impulse control, mood disorders, and negatively impact the area of the brain responsible for attention, decision making, and judgement. 

Trusted care from skilled specialists

Dealing with the concerns and consequences surrounding vaping requires professional guidance and care. At North Jersey Pulmonary Associates, we understand the dangers of smoking and vaping, along with the challenges involved in quitting. We provide the skilled, compassionate care patients need to protect their respiratory health and navigate a path to wellness. For more information, give us a call today.