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Today we’re going to discuss what we call a Vaping Myth. For all sorts of reasons, five particular myths have refused to go away. Vaping is a 95% safer alternative to smoking. This is known to be absolutely true. Various studies support it. But to be fair, nothing in this world is 100% secure.
Vaping has some minor risks, (vaping for us does not mean using THC cartridges laced with Vitamin E) but they are much more manageable compared to smoking tobacco. But before we get to the specific myths, it’s essential to, first of all, explain what vaping is.
What Is Vaping?
Vaping is the inhalation and exhalation of the vapors produced by an e-cigarette and e-liquid. Although e-cigarettes have received a lot of unfair and misleading press of late, these devices have been in existence for a very long time. The first e-cigarette dates back to 1927. The primary purpose was to use it as a means of delivering medicinal compounds to the human body. The design and functionalities of e-cigarettes have, of course, changed massively ever since.
(Source: Pixabay)
Vaping, too, is now popular with young adults. With so much misleading information out there these days, it’s often harder for the average person to understand what vaping is. Well, no need to worry. In this post, we take a look at some of the common vaping myths out there.
Vaping Myth #1 – Vaping Is Just As Bad As Smoking
I’m sure many of you guys have already come across this one. It’s as outrageous as it sounds. Comparing vaping to smoking is not even a comparison of apples and oranges. This is because these two things are entirely different in terms of risks and health effects. Nonetheless, the action of some retailers hasn’t helped matters. You see, some big retailers in many countries have discontinued the sale of e-cigarette for fear of liability.
Source: Pixabay
The funny thing is that these retailers continue to sell cigarettes. So, you may wonder why? Is it probably because e-cigarettes are causing more harm than tobacco? This statement is also not true. The amount that you vape each dayis way less risky than smoking. Besides, over 7000, potentially harmful chemicals exist in a single cigarette. Vaping does not emit toxic smoke and removes all these chemicals from the equation, thus making it a healthier alternative.
Myth # 2 – Government Authorities Do Not Regulate Vaping
For so long, anti-vaping crusaders and other lobbyists have argued that vaping is not regulated. Unlike smoking, which has been slapped by many restrictions, people believe that vaping is a freestyle behavior that has eluded oversight for years. This thinking is not correct. While the regulatory statutes governing smoking are relatively more restrictive, it doesn’t mean that vaping is not regulated either.
In the US, for example, e-cigarettes are heavily monitored and regulated by the FDA. The first batch of e-cigarette regulations in the United States came to effect in 2016. The FDA was granted regulatory oversight over these devices and immediately decided to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to persons under the age of 18. The FDA also mandated e-cigarette makers to paste labels on their products, indicating they contain nicotine.
The agency also demands that e-cigarette makers submit all the ingredients used in their products, including the formulation. Despite these rules, it is arguable that enforcement of regulatory statutes for e-cigarettes is currently not as effective as it should be. Dozens of unregulated e-cigarettes still enter the market, and the FDA has not done a lot to stop them.
Vaping Myth #3 – Vaping Causes “Popcorn Lung”
Popcorn lung is a colloquial medical term, designated to a lung condition developed by several factory workers after they were exposed to diacetyl. Because some e-liquid flavors may contain traces of diacetyl, there is this belief that prolonged vaping may lead to the “popcorn lung.”
This claim is not valid. There is research out there showing that the amount of diacetyl found in e-cigarettes is not enough to cause this condition. E-cigarettes, as they are today, will need to have 750 times more diacetyl to pose any risk.
Vaping Myth #4 – Vapes Explode Easily
No doubt, we have heard reports where vapes have exploded. But this is a rare phenomenon. It is also caused by irresponsible use, especially with regards to the battery. If the vape is used as instructed by the manufacturer, then the risk of an explosion is low.
Source: Pixabay
Simple things like charging the e-cigarettes with the approved charger can go a long way in enhancing the safety and longevity of your device.
Vaping Myth #5 – E-Cigarettes Encourage Youth Smoking
There is also this belief that e-cigarettes are a gateway to youth smoking. As we have already noted above, vaping is relatively more prevalent among youths. Some parents fear that the introduction to vaping will eventually lead to a lifelong smoking problem.
While some studies have tried to show the link between e-cigarettes and smoking, the results are not nearly as conclusive as they should be. Besides, vaping is an alternative to smoking. In essence, people would rather vape than smoke. It doesn’t, therefore, make sense that someone would consider smoking once they have tried vaping.
There you go. These are some of the most common myths about vaping out there, even now. As you can see, we gone into them here, and chances are we’ll need to remind people next year, and the year after that. It’s a War against Vaping, being waged by those influenced by Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, the Media, and corrupt Politicians. Maybe one day the war will end, but don’t hold your breath.
