Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking?

While vaping is generally considered to be safer than smoking, it is not entirely risk-free.

Vaping involves inhaling vapour produced by heating a liquid (known as e-juice or e-liquid) that usually contains nicotine, flavourings, and other chemicals. This vapour does not contain the harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke, such as tar and carbon monoxide, which are known to cause cancer and other health problems.

However, e-juice can contain other potentially harmful substances, such as diacetyl, which has been linked to a condition known as "popcorn lung" in some workers who were exposed to it in microwave popcorn plants. Additionally, the long-term effects of inhaling some of the other chemicals in e-juice are not yet fully understood.

Furthermore, some studies have suggested that vaping can still have negative effects on lung function and cardiovascular health, and that the chemicals in e-juice can produce harmful byproducts when heated to high temperatures.

Overall, while vaping may be considered safer than smoking, it is still important to weigh the potential risks and make an informed decision. For those who do not already smoke, vaping should not be seen as a safe alternative to smoking.

Smoking-related deaths are estimated to be much higher than deaths related to vaping. According to the World Health Organization, smoking is responsible for approximately 8 million deaths each year globally, with about 7 million of those deaths being the result of direct tobacco use and around 1.2 million deaths being the result of exposure to secondhand smoke.

On the other hand, deaths related to vaping have been reported, but they are much lower in comparison. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a total of 68 deaths in the United States that were associated with vaping, primarily due to the use of black market, THC-containing e-cigarettes. While these deaths are concerning, they represent a small fraction of smoking-related deaths.

It is important to note that the long-term effects of vaping are not yet fully understood, and there may be health risks associated with vaping that are not yet known. However, at this time, the evidence suggests that smoking is far more dangerous to health than vaping.

From personal experience I can tell you that since switching to vaping from cigarettes a few years ago, I find that I don't cough nearly as much, and no longer reek of cigarette smoke. 

Source: ChatGPT