The true dangers of vaping

Graphic by Kylee Weber

You get home from a long, hard and stressful day at school. You sit down on the couch, kick your feet up and grab your Juul as you prepare to relax. For many people, electronic cigarettes and vapes can be a way to take a load off or be a better alternative to actual cigarettes, but do you truly understand the harm that is being done to your body every time you take a hit? Here are three harmful effects your body is experiencing at the expense of using electronic cigarettes. 

1. Electronic cigarettes are just as addictive as regular ones 

It’s no secret that cigarettes and tobacco are addictive products and can lead to many problems that can be as serious as lung cancer. But what not many people realize is that electronic cigarettes can have the same addictive effect as tobacco cigarettes, if not more. Research suggests that electronic cigarettes may be just as addictive as drugs such as cocaine or heroin. Depending on what type of electronic cigarette you purchase, the amount of nicotine can be a larger amount than some levels of tobacco found in a normal cigarette. So next time you reach to take a hit of your Juul, remember how addictive it can be, and maybe think twice before abusing its use.

2. Vaping is bad for yours lungs and heart 

You can find nicotine in both electronic cigarettes and traditional ones, but larger amounts are found in electronic ones. Many issues come along with inhaling nicotine, one of those issues being how addictive it is, but by far the worst issues with nicotine is how much it raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline. When your blood pressure and adrenaline spike at an alarming rate, it could lead to a heart attack which can be very deadly. Nicotine is also extremely harmful to your lungs and can cause cardiovascular disease. If you care about your lungs and don’t want to risk the chance of not being able to breathe properly, then you should put your Juul down and pick up an apple instead.

3. People who vape are more likely to try harder drugs in the future 

When your body becomes used to the feeling of one particular drug, you tend to explore your options a little more. It has always been said that cigarettes and marijuana are gateways drugs to harder and deadlier drugs. It is so easy to become addicted to nicotine and tobacco, and it is just as easy to become addicted to drugs like meth or cocaine. While cigarettes are not as deadly as those types of drugs, the addiction rate is the same. 

Overall, most people understand that vaping is bad, but many continue to do it. If you currently are an athlete, or you wish to have a long and healthy life, I highly recommend you make the decision to cut out vaping from your life. Your heart and lungs will thank you.