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For approximately 8000 years, tobacco has been growing wild in America. Native American tribes in these regions cultivated and used tobacco for various ceremonial, medicinal, and recreational purposes long before the arrival of Europeans in the late 15th century. After Columbus’s voyages to the Americas, tobacco was introduced to Europe and later spread to other parts of the world, becoming a globally cultivated and consumed crop.
By the 18th century the tobacco industry had developed and smoking had become more widespread. It was only in the late 1940s and early 1950s that smoking was first connected to lung cancer and other illnesses. Now, we are aware that smoking has well-documented health risks, and this has led to numerous public health campaigns and regulations aimed at reducing its harm. However, in recent years, a new trend has emerged that has caught the attention of many: vaping. Vapes came to be known as E-cigarettes which are sometimes also called e-cigs, e-hookahs, mods, vapes, tank systems, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Vaping, or the use of electronic cigarettes, offers an alternative to traditional smoking by delivering nicotine in a vaporized form, often with fewer harmful chemicals than traditional tobacco smoke. While some view vaping as a potential harm reduction tool or a way to quit smoking, it has also sparked debates about its own health risks, especially among younger generations.
Joseph Robinson in America intended to design a mechanism that would allow people to inhale vapor without burning tobacco. And thus, vaping began as a notion on paper in America more than 90 years ago. It wasn’t until decades later that the concept was taken seriously. Hon Lik, a Chinese chemist, devised the e-cigarette in 2003 with the intention of using it as an alternative to traditional smoking.
E-cigarettes are made up of a battery, a reservoir for holding a nicotine-containing fluid, a heating element or an atomizer, and a mouthpiece. The gadget converts a liquid solution (also known as e-liquid or e-juice) into an aerosol that the user inhales. Propylene glycol and/or glycerin are commonly used as solvents for nicotine and flavoring compounds in e-liquid.
Vaping was widely advertised because it was thought to be a safe simulation of smoking traditional cigarettes. The overall cost was less as people had to initially invest only in vape pens and these served for years and later only liquid refills were to be bought. It was believed that vaping exposed consumers to fewer and lower quantities of chemicals than smoking cigarettes and that it minimized exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung illness, and heart and circulatory problems. Reports said smoking kills 6 million people along with 600 thousand people who die due to secondhand smoke each year. Advertisements said that nicotine levels in vapes were 10 times lower than in cigarettes and it also didn’t require burning tobacco, there was not enough heat to cause combustion, due to which there was no tar and no lingering odor. Too good to be true. In addition to all of these, e-cigs produced no cigarette butts or litter, this also reduced the chances of forest fires. It also had a sleek and stylish design. Sounds charming, right? But all that glisters is not gold.
The safety of e-cigarettes, on the other hand, is of major concern, as the devices have had extremely minimal safety testing and there is little indication that they are safer than traditional tobacco products.
Since it was widely advertised and celebs started posing with vapes flashing the cool device, these attractive commercials lured young curious minds too. Youth became the major e-cig users, even exceeding the population using it to quit smoking.
Though it didn’t require burning tobacco, it did require nicotine. One vape pod has the same amount of addictive nicotine as 20 cigarettes. Vaping trains the brain to expect more nicotine, which increases the desire to vape. This leads to nicotine addiction in people who never smoked traditional cigarettes and also doesn’t serve the purpose of helping people to quit smoking, for which it was originally invented.
Nicotine elevates blood pressure and adrenaline levels, increasing heart rate and risk of having a heart attack. It makes you need a cigarette and induces withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is a neuroteratogen and has been found to cause impaired fetal brain development if consumed regularly by pregnant ladies.
Not only nicotine it contains additional flavoring agents, thickeners and other components. Inhaling these non-nicotine vape components can result in serious, possibly fatal lung injury (EVALI). EVALI is a condition characterized by lung inflammation and respiratory symptoms. It has been associated with the use of vaping products containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (cannabidiol), or nicotine. The CDC recorded 2,807 instances of e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI) and 68 fatalities in February 2020.
According to preliminary studies, those who use e-cigarettes on a daily basis are at a higher risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Daily e-cigarette use is linked to changes in oral bacteria composition and oral inflammation, both of which may raise the incidence of dental infections such periodontitis and may be risk factors for heart disease. It is also hypothesized that e-cigarette usage raises the incidence of seizures, especially in young people and those who inhale a lot of nicotine. Exposure to certain flavoring chemicals used in e-cigarettes, such as diacetyl, has been associated with a condition known as “popcorn lung (Bronchiolitis Obliterans).” This rare but serious lung disease causes scarring and narrowing of the airways, leading to breathing difficulties.
Also, breathing in secondhand smoke poses a health danger to anyone in close proximity to vapers. Although vaping does not emit the same odorous emissions as smoking, secondhand vapor includes toxins and substances that damage the interior air. Furthermore, third-hand smoke on clothing and furniture is unpleasant and can be hazardous to persons with respiratory disorders. Even if you can’t smell it, third-hand particles cling to surfaces and dust and can be inhaled or absorbed via the skin.
Vaping in Nepal
Vaping craze hit the Nepali market about 7 years ago. And it flourished as numerous physical and online stores started, vaping lounges began to appear and vaping contests started being held. E-cigarette smoking has become a trend, but many are still unaware of the dangers and long-term health consequences are yet to be studied.
On interviewing a few people who opted for vaping in order to quit smoking, they said that the results weren’t as expected. There was no progress. They were spending more money on something uncertain with unstudied and unknown health issues. There was no good outcome that motivated them to quit smoking, so they stopped vaping.
In recent years, the rise of vaping has reshaped the way of nicotine consumption. It emerged as an enticing alternative to traditional smoking, offering a sleek and stylish design, fewer chemicals, and the promise of a less harmful experience. However, as we delve into the world of vaping, it becomes clear that not all that glitters is gold. Vaping may have initially seemed like a safer choice, but it has brought along its own set of health concerns, especially among the youth. Nicotine addiction, heart-related risks, and even severe lung injuries have become associated with vaping, raising alarms about its safety. Moreover, vaping’s allure among young minds has led to a growing population of users who had never smoked before. The vaping trend has also touched Nepal, and gained momentum, but many are yet to realize the uncertainties and potential health hazards associated with it. As we move forward, it’s vital to remember that vaping is not a harmless habit; it’s a health concern that demands our attention and awareness.
