The Dangers of Vaping

Vapes were first released in 2004 by Hon Lik, a pharmacist and Chinese traditional medicine expert whose dad had just died from lung cancer. He created vaping to help smokers reduce the harm they were doing to their bodies, but instead, it has become very popular with non-smoking children under the legal age of 18. Although vaping is better for you than smoking, it still has many negative effects. 

• Nicotine, which is present in most vapes, is extremely addictive and is proven to be as hard to give up as heroin. It narrows the blood vessels which increases the pressure in them, causing fat globules to build up. These fat globules block blood containing oxygen from travelling to the heart, so anaerobic respiration has to take place. Anaerobic respiration produces lactic acid, which lowers the pH, denaturing the enzymes and killing the heart cells. This causes coronary heart disease and is the leading cause of death worldwide. Nicotine also triggers your body to produce adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and blood pressure, making your heart work harder. 
  
• Propylene glycol, which is also present in most vapes, often causes an allergic reaction in the person vaping, even if they have no history of allergies. While most allergies are harmless, it is possible to have a life threatening allergic reaction, depending on your body’s response to the substance. The most common symptoms of a propylene glycol allergy are a sore throat, sinus problems, headaches, nausea, numbness of the face and tongue, excessive thirst and a hive breakout. Propylene glycol can also, not only cause lung damage to the person vaping, but to the people around them who inhale the smoke as well. 
  
• Glycerin is another substance which is present in most vapes. When ingested, it can cause vomiting, headaches, dizziness, nausea and excessive thirst. If too much is consumed, your body can’t absorb all of it because it is a form of sugar alcohol, so it can lead to gas and diarrhoea. ​
  

All of these impacts of vaping can severely damage your health, so, like Juul says, “If you don’t smoke or vape, don’t start”. Is it really worth it? 
 

By Charlotte Fox, 9L