Ultra runners, mountain bikers, and other endurance athletes are no strangers to vaping, and despite the old stereotype of the hippie junkie, people who vape tend to be quite active. In fact, 82% of users said they had smoked within an hour before or four hours after exercising.
Although most said they were more likely to vape after training than before, 67% said they did both. Among those who took this practice along with exercise, 70% said it increased exercise enjoyment, 78% said it boosted recovery, and 52% said it increased motivation.
In recent years, many of these active users have switched their cigarettes to vape pens, as it was promoted as a "healthier" way to ingest smoke. Even science has taken an interest in endorsing the relative virtues of vaping over smoking. Vaping is discreet and does not cause a lot of smoke, which has made it even more attractive to active users.
What at first may seem like a panacea has now led to an epidemic. Health experts warn of this practice, in which many people share electronic cigarettes with friends or family. If you're on the brink of hysteria, we want to put your mind at ease by letting you know all about vaping.
What is vaping?
When you "vape," you are inhaling vapor to get the desired effect. Vaporizing devices are typically battery-powered atomizers, like e-cigarettes, that heat substances such as nicotine, marijuana (in countries where legal), CBD and various flavorings to create a mist or vapor that users inhale. These devices are generally used to heat oils, but can also be used to vaporize wax or loose flowers.
Is it a bad habit for you?
Let's start here: it's not good for you. Because it's a relatively recent phenomenon and the vaping industry resembles the Wild West, it's almost impossible to say what's behind this epidemic or how bad vaping really is. This fact is currently in a regulatory vacuum. The FDA does not regulate them as a tobacco product or drug delivery device like they do inhalers. No one has been responsible for ensuring security here. And the lack of regulation also means that people can vape all sorts of sketchy substances.
It seems that the epidemic we are currently experiencing is related to the use of substances that are used to dilute THC and CBD oils in an effort to make them more profitable for manufacturers. Items like vitamin E acetate are used to dilute the oils because it is cheap and has a very similar consistency and color. This has probably been happening at a slower rate for some time, but the medical community still doesn't recognize it. Now it's something we're all very aware of and therefore identify with more often.
However, is it better than smoking?
I'm very sorry, I don't think we can say for sure. It is either more secure or less secure inherently. He would probably classify this as "a different bad guy." Putting anything into your lungs other than air or prescription drugs is not a good idea if you want to maximize your lung health. I don't think there is enough data yet to say that vaping is any more or less "safe" versus smoking.
The problem is in the extraction of oil from the lungs. Vaping THC oil or CBD oil seems to present a risk for users. This is related to the fact that our lungs are very sensitive to any inhaled substance. Our lungs don't have much of a mechanism for removing oil from our airways or alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs scattered throughout our lungs where gas exchange occurs.
Exposing the lungs to these substances can lead to inflammation and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, we don't have long-term data to suggest whether this will lead to chronic lung disease, but what we do know is that it's not certain. Although research is ongoing, at this point, we are still not sure about the safety of any of these products. My advice is to be skeptical about the safety of both for now.
If the problem is oil, it's safer to vape, right?
It depends on who you ask. Some scientists say yes; others say no.
Vaping as a method of consumption is much healthier than smoking tobacco, logically. The problem is that most people are vaping substance concentrates, which go through a chemical process to extract and concentrate. So comparing that to smoking is like you're comparing apples to oranges.
Are some vaping devices more or less safe?
We are seeing patients with acute lung injuries who have used a multitude of different mechanisms to vape, including vape pens. No method seems to carry a greater risk over another.
Does the dose and/or frequency matter in terms of risk?
Both seem to matter. The more you vaporize, the more this oily substance accumulates in your lungs. Having said that, there are people who vape very occasionally, so it doesn't seem like a long time for lung injury to develop.
Are there any special risks associated with vaping before, during or after exercise?
This is not well researched, but unsurprisingly, pulmonary experts frown on the practice. Although there is no knowledge of any special risk for users who vape before, during or after exercise; the risk of injury with the use of these products seems like a bad idea. The lungs are not meant to inhale these substances.
When do you know if your health is costing you?
Five years from now, it could be a "total disaster," or products will be better regulated and we'll understand everything better.
Currently, there are no long-term safety data on how vaping affects lung tissue. The FDA has not evaluated vaping devices, so it's all up in the air (pun intended).
If you vape regularly, it's important to know the signs of EVALUATE (lung injuries from vaping):
- Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Fatigue, fever, or weight loss.
If you currently vape and have had a cough, shortness of breath, or increased heart rate, see your doctor. If these symptoms get worse or you feel very sick, run to the emergency room. Vaping has also been linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome, a condition in which fluid buildup in the lungs prevents oxygen from circulating properly, potentially fatal.