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Every day people try and fail to quit smoking due to nicotine addiction. Non-smokers are unaware of how addictive nicotine can be and how ingrained it can be in a person’s lifestyle. Smoking is the cause of around 75,000 deaths a year in this country and people are looking for tools to help them quit.

Vaping is an alternative to smoking that has risen in popularity. Before making the switch, it’s important to know what happens when you quit smoking and start vaping.

 

The Shift from Smoking to Vaping

In the last decade, the amount of people vaping has risen substantially. In a report from 2022, it was estimated that there were 4.3 million vape users in Britain – approximately 800,000 more than there were 10 years ago.

A big reason that people are making the switch is the change in attitudes. Over the last 50 years, the wider public has become more aware of the health effects of smoking and how it is one of the main causes of certain types of cancer, such as lung and throat cancer.

Government policy has also changed towards smoking. In 2007, there was a smoking ban and in 2019 the government announced that they wanted the country to be “smoke-free” by 2030. As part of this effort, the government has turned to vaping – showing it to be a much safer alternative to smoking. Just in April this year, it was announced that 1 in 5 of all smokers in England will give a starter vape kit as part of the “swap to stop” scheme.

Changing attitudes to smoking and proactive government action seems to have had an effect. In 2021, smoking in England was down to 13% – the lowest on record.

 

What Happens When You Quit Smoking and Start Vaping

When you stop smoking without anything to replace it, you are likely to experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms within hours of your last cigarette. Symptoms include increased irritability, restlessness, insomnia, increased appetite, cravings and feeling depressed.

If you start vaping, you will begin to feel changes very quickly. Within hours your blood pressure will be at near normal levels alongside your heart rate as nicotine is still getting into your system. Vaping doesn’t put tar or carbon monoxide in your body so that will begin to leave you after half a day.

After a day, lung function will improve and soon your sense of smell and taste will improve. Vaping may also keep your mental health balanced as you are not anxious about quitting with your body still getting the nicotine it expects.

Vaping Benefits vs Smoking

  • Vaping is estimated to be 95% better for you than cigarettes
  • Vaping is cheaper than cigarettes
  • Vaping seems to be more effective than traditional Nicotine Replacement Therapy
  • Second-hand vapour is less harmful than second-hand smoke
  • Vaping has been shown to not be a gateway to smoking cigarettes

Vaping Drawbacks vs Smoking

  • Vapes contain harmful chemicals
  • Young people are drawn to vaping
  • Some vapes can have higher nicotine levels than advertised
  • Vapes can contain traces of metal, like tin and lead
  • Not all the long-term risks are known yet

Lasting Health Implications of Vaping

  • Less risk of various cancers
  • Disrupt development in younger people
  • Damage to lungs
  • Reduces toxin exposure that can lead to heart disease

 

Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking Cigarettes?

As stated above, e-cigarettes are safer than smoking cigarettes but as they have not been around long enough, the lasting health effects of vaping are not known. There is evidence that vaping can cause heart and lung problems and contribute to the development of asthma and other lung problems, particularly in disposable vapes.

Vaping can also cause coughing, a dry mouth and throat alongside irritation, headaches and shortness of breath.

With all this, there are many misconceptions about vaping:

  • Vaping is not a gateway to smoking as 93% of vape users were smokers beforehand
  • Vaping is not more harmful than tobacco
  • Vaping is not more addictive than smoking
  • Children don’t pick up vaping due to the flavours

The Current Debate

A lot of the dialogue around vaping concerns children. From 2021 to 2022, the number of children aged 11-18 vaping more than doubled, from 4% to 8.6%. It is illegal to sell to minors but many small shops do and there is a serious discussion that needs to be had about how vapes are marketed.

Companies are using influencers, predominately viewed by younger people, and packaging their vapes in bright colours to resemble sweets. Kids in the UK are more likely to see suggested e-cigarette ads on social media than in other large countries, whilst peer pressure means that more and more children are taking it up without knowing vaping risks.

 

How to Make the Transition from Smoking to Vaping

Even making the switch from smoking to vaping is hard enough, let alone quitting nicotine altogether. There are some things to keep in mind when you start vaping so that the habit sticks.

Gradual Transition

When quitting anything, it’s natural to want to do a complete detox. For a successful switch, you should do it gradually. Buy a vape and use it alongside smoking, phasing out cigarettes over a longer period until you are vaping exclusively.

Pick the Correct Nicotine Strength

Vapes come in many different nicotine strengths. You should fill your vape with e-juice of the appropriate nicotine level – this way you will not feel any nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This will make you less likely to go back to cigarettes. Once you find the right level, you can slowly lower it if you intend to stop using nicotine. It is important to not use a strong nicotine level as this will worsen your nicotine addiction rather than improve it.

Don’t Vape Constantly

You may be tempted to pick up a vape more often than you would a cigarette. Vapes are more socially tolerated and can be used in venues where smoking is not allowed. Treating your vape like a cigarette is a good habit. Sticking to vape breaks and keeping a limit on how much you vape can help you manage your nicotine addiction.

Vape Properly

Vapes are meant for a slow and longer inhale, rather than the sharper intakes that smoking requires. If you vape properly, you will get more enjoyment out of it and feel the effects better.

 

Find Out More

If you want to quit smoking, then vaping is a good option for you. Of course, it doesn’t come without risk but the health effects of vaping seem to be much less severe than smoking cigarettes. It’s important though that you should see vaping as a step along to quitting nicotine altogether, rather than replacing one addiction for the other.

If you want to know more about what happens when you quit smoking and start vaping or are interested in the general drug rehabilitation that Nova Recovery provides, get in touch today. Call 01475 303998 to learn more.

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John Gillen - Director & Author at Nova Recovery

John Gillen - Author - Last updated: September 8, 2023

John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.

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