Trying to quit cigarettes for good and stick to vaping

[Brianc123]

So i'm just wondering a few things. I've quit smoking with vaping before. But i'm curious, does vaping cause copd or mouth cancer or anything like stinkies do? Cause I hit my vape like 600 times a day. I also go through like 10-20 ml Which is not a problem to me bit i'm just wondering if im doing more damage vaping then smoking? Any health stories from vaping like health improvements , or things that got worse? Thanks!


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[stols001]

There isn't enough longitudinal data yet to really say, so I'm going to just say that you'll have to decide based on what research there IS available now, which seems to (for the most part, with some exceptions) indicate vaping is safer than smoking for the most part. I don't have COPD but I was headed there, and my lung function has greatly improved. I've heard of new vapers with COPD finding improvement in their sx when they switched to vaping. Mouth cancer, IDK? It seems to me that most studies are finding that it isn't inhalation of nic that causes problems, but rather combustion and tar. With that said, that doesn't mean a former smoker won't wind up with cancer at some point, and it would be hard to tease out whether or not that was caused by (former) smoking, vaping, or what. Nicotine is safer than smoking, overall, but there are some risks (mainly vascular and cardio risks) from nicotine, but they seem to be less than those combining nicotine *and* tobacco, again, due to tar and combustion.

However, I do try to be mindful about how much I'm vaping, I prefer MTL vaping and less vapor per day, though there are certainly times I chainvape (mainly in the a.m.) I don't think anyone can tell you that vaping is *safe* but it does seem to be safer than *smoking.* To eliminate all risk the safest thing to do is to neither smoke nor vape. This may be something you want to take up with your doctor? I try my best to limit my exposure to too much flavoring, too much vape, generally (this means I am avoiding sub0hm setups). The nic is the least of my worries, but I told myself that IF I could get to stable vaping, I wouldn't fret about the nic, though I may reduce it over the weekend, I am thinking.

I can't say whether vaping is *safe* for you-- only you can make that decision possibly with the input of your doc, if they aren't rabidly anti-vaping and could work out a treatment plan for you-- for example if you are worried about your lung health you could get a cat scan which would give your doc a pretty accurate picture of what's going on in there. You could do a flowmeter test to measure your lung health every 6 months to a year, to see if your lung health is improving or getting worse. You could get an EKG and even a echocardiogram to check the state of your heart, etc. If your doc is willing to order these test for you, you will have a baseline that you could periodically update.

My docs are very happy I am vaping, but I have only seen health improvements, personally. One of my doctors vapes and he is excellent to talk to about vaping. He feels it's unlikely to cause lung damage unless you are finding one of your vape ingredients to be an irritant. He does state that cardiovascular and the cardiac system generally *can* be impacted by vaping, but states no one really knows at this point how much.

But, those are the things YOU can do. If you are worried about your intake of e-juice, you could use a less powerful setup and/or find ways to vape less.

Best of luck,

Anna

 

[JCinFLA]

42+ years, 1 - 1.5 PAD ex-smoker here, who quit with the help of vaping in January 2014. Documented health improvements for me since doing that:

1. No more evidence of my "mild" beginning stage signs of COPD (emphysema) diagnosed 8-10 years ago.

2. My Blood oxygen level has greatly increased since switching.

3. Doctor says my lungs sound clear now, which they never were for many many years!

4. My most recent spirometer test results actually astonished my doctor...they were that good! He said it was hard to believe I'd been a smoker for that many years, and at 1 - 1.5 PAD at that!

Doc gives me a "thumbs up" each time I have my 6 month check-up, and he still has no problem with me vaping. Just had my last Check-up on Sept. 18th, and all is still great!

Also, this might be interesting to you. Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa FL is conducting a 4 year long, 3.6 million $ study on e-cigarettes. I'm a member of 1 of their 4 study groups. They're hoping to find out if ecigarettes could/should be classified as a legitimate NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) like Nicorette gum, the patches, inhalers, etc. for smoking cessation. The doctors in charge of the study have absolutely no problem being in the same rooms with participants who are vaping, and it's allowed everywhere in the Tobacco Cessation building where the study is being conducted. So, I personally, have no fears nor problems with vaping. But...each person has to decide for him/herself what's best, for them!

 

[ExtremeDooty]

Lacking any scientific data linking Vaping to COPD and cancer, there is certainly anecdotal evidence of improving health benefits rampant on this forum. On the other hand, the connection between cigs and COPD and various forms of cancer is pretty well established. It's easier to prove a positive-smoking is bad than proving a negative-Vaping doesn't cause the same thing.
I think we all know that there is an abundance of chemicals and additives that can cause cancer in cigarettes that aren't in e-liquids. In my mind the choice is obvious even though I haven't totally made the transition.
As a gun guy I would put it like this. Would you rather get shot by a .357magnum (smoking) or a pellet gun (Vaping)? That pellet gun might break the skin and cause an infection. An infection from the .357mag would be the least of your worries. But it's still your decision to make.

 

[Beamslider]

You don't say how much nicotine mg/ml or with what or how you are vaping. But a Mouth to Lung type device using higher levels of nic like 18 or 24 mg if you were a heavy smoker might help you vape less and get more out of it.

I started out with 45 mg but wouldn't recommend that much. Down to 3 mg now The first 2 or 3 weeks are the worst of craving a smoke, it gets better after that. Nicotine isn't the only addictive thing about cigarettes.

 

[Eskie]

Nicotine is not carcinogenic or a cause of COPD (it can mildly constrict blood vessels which might be an issue in someone with significant vascular disease). It's all the other crap in combustible tobacco that causes cancer and COPD. There are small amounts of potential irritants and carcinogenic substances produced from the other stuff in vape juice than nicotine but at levels orders of magnitude lower than seen with tobacco and without evidence those small amounts even represent a health risk.

Order of risk
Smoking>>>>>>>vaping>nothing

Sure nothing is best, but vaping sure as hell beats smoking. The 30 year long term exposure questions of the small amounts of products produced in vaping (especially overheated vape juice) will take another ~30 years to become available. Me, I'm not waiting that long to make my decision.

 

[Opinionated]

I began vaping upon my doctors advice. For me,my breathing was bad, really really bad due to smoking two packs a day for 32 years. I couldn't even make it to my mailbox without rest breaks. Cleaning house I'd turn blue.

My breathing improved exponentially when I made the switch to vaping. I couldn't even remember a time in my life where I could breathe so well.

Not only did my breathing improve, but also my blood pressure improved as well as my pain level. (Broken back, long story but smoking prevented oxygen from going through my spine properly, and vaping didn't prevent the oxygen and so my pain levels dropped somewhat, definitely an improvement.)

So yes, vaping can be a real improvement to your health, especially if you've been smoking a long time.

That said, people who sub ohm (high wattage/high vg in high quantities) might see less of an improvement in these areas, I don't know. I'm a low wattage vaper so don't go through the juice, and don't dl vape.. there might be differences there not sure.

 

[QcVaper]

I switched in june of this year,before i did i had issues with my throat (you know that blocked throat feeling you gotta clear every once in a while ?) had no breath and a very hard time coming up to my apt on the third floor and all kinds of other problems besides my type 1 diabetes. Ever since i switched,no more clearing throat (exept in the morning but it's pretty dry when i wake up ahah ) i can go up the stairs 2 by 2,i eat much less than i did which is good for my diabetes and easier to balance day to day i have more energy and less issue overall.
We do have to keep in mind that vaping is not 100% safe, it's a harm REDUCTION way not a complete replacement,though like alot of people here i can see myself vaping for a long while as i feel much better doing it and nicotine is NOT dangerous or cancerous.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

My Doc advised vaping, too. I dual used for a long time and finally gave up burning tubes of tobacco earlier this year.

The health effects have astonished me. For one thing, I had lost my voice due to vocal cord damage (paresis) incurred during surgery in February. The throat specialist said more surgery was the only option.

My voice came back in June, and vaping instead of smoking was the only thing that changed.

I used to suffer from horrible allergies. Not anymore, and fall allergies are the worst here.

I used to wheeze and cough. Especially in the mornings. Not anymore.

My eyes used to be bloodshot, and I had dark circles around them. Not anymore, and people tell me I look years younger than I used to.

My improved health is all the evidence I need.

 

[DeAnna2112]

smoking gave me copd (smoked for 30yrs) and since vaping i can breath much better and just feel better overall. I chain vape when i am not at work and vape anywhere between 18-38mg of nic, depending on my day at work. But i feel soo much better i don't wake up cough and wheezing. Mornings use to be like how much of a lung am i going to cough up today? Now i wake up and can breath no coughing, it's amazing how vaping has improved my health. Yes there is alot we still don't know about vaping, and i anticipate there will be some hiccups along the road and we will readjust how we vape, but right now my health speaks volumes compared to where i was when i smoked. It's hard to worry about something being bad and when nothing bad is coming from it, just improvement. It's something only you can decide for yourself after looking at the research and looking at the feedback many have shared who have suffered from cig smoking and witness a massive improvement in their health. As for me and my health, i will gladly vape on.