The Truth About Vaping: Debunking Vaping Myths with OK Vape

Over a decade ago, I made the life-changing decision to quit smoking. And haven’t looked back since. By switching from smoking to vaping, I successfully ditched the cigarettes and have since enjoyed 12 years completely smoke-free. Since joining OK Vape as E-Commerce Manager, however, I’ve encountered countless misconceptions about vaping which have the potential to put smokers off quit attempts.^[1] As someone who has experienced the transition from smoking to vaping first-hand, I’m keen to share my own opinions about vaping – opinions I’ve formed through a combination of personal experience and impartial statistics – to highlight the benefits of swapping to stop. In this article, I explore eight of the most common vape myths alongside expert research and my own personal experience to reveal the truth about vaping.

Vaping vs Smoking

Before we go any further, here are three facts that summarise the truth about vaping:

• • Vaping is 95% safer than smoking.^[2]

• • Quit attempts involving a vaping product are associated with the highest success rates.^[3]

• • Almost two-thirds of people who combine vaping with support from a local Stop Smoking Service successfully quit smoking.^[4]

Keep that information in mind as we debunk some of the most common vaping myths.

Myth #1: Vaping is as harmful as smoking

Some e-cigarettes replicate the look, feel and sensation of smoking to provide a familiar experience that eases withdrawal symptoms. Because of this, I can (sort of!) understand the assumption that vaping is equally as harmful as smoking. Fortunately, this is exactly that: an assumption. The truth about vaping is that e-cigarettes are much less harmful than tobacco cigarettes. Cigarette smoke contains over 5,000 different chemicals; at least 70 of which are carcinogenic.^[5] That’s what makes smoking so harmful. Unlike cigarette smoke, e-cigarette vapour does not contain tar or carbon monoxide: two of the most harmful components produced by traditional cigarettes.^[6] Vaping significantly reduces exposure to the toxins that are known to increase the risk of cancer, lung disease, cardiovascular problems and more.^[7] And it’s for precisely this reason that Public Health England found vaping to be up to 95% less harmful than smoking.^[8] Key takeaway: vape health risks are significantly lower than the risks associated with cigarette smoking, making it an effective tool for stopping smoking.

Myth #2: Popcorn lung is linked to vaping

Another common misconception is that vaping causes popcorn lung: a condition which damages the lung’s smallest airways. The side effects of popcorn lung include coughing and shortness of breath.^[9] Popcorn lung is thought to be caused by diacetyl, an ingredient which was once used in popcorn manufacturing (hence its nickname). Diacetyl was banned in e-liquids under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) of 2016, meaning vape products sold in the UK and EU do not contain diacetyl. It’s also worth mentioning that there have been no confirmed cases of popcorn lung linked to e-cigarettes, so there is no real reason to believe that vaping causes popcorn lung.^[10] Key takeaway: since diacetyl is banned as an ingredient in UK-regulated vapes, you cannot get popcorn lung from vaping.^[11]

 

Myth #3: E-cigs cause EVALI

E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) was first defined in 2019 to describe a vaping-associated illness that developed in the US. EVALI symptoms include shortness of breath, excessive coughing and chest pain.^[12] Investigations found the condition was caused by contaminated and illegal vaping products. EVALI is not associated with regular or long-term vaping. There has not been an outbreak of EVALI in the UK and the chemicals causing the disease are banned in e-cigarettes nationwide.^[13] Key takeaway: There is no evidence to suggest legal e-cigarettes in the UK or long-term vaping can cause EVALI.^[14]

 

Myth #4: Nicotine causes smoking-related cancers

Four in 10 smokers and ex-smokers think nicotine causes most smoking-related cancer.^[15] Thankfully, there is no truth in this. The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) have found nicotine to be no more harmful to health than caffeine. For this reason, they advocate for nicotine vapes as an effective tool in helping people quit.^[16] The most dangerous components of a cigarette are the numerous toxic metals, poisonous gases and chemicals found within tobacco smoke.^[17] Contrary to commonly believed vaping myths, e-cigarette vapour produces neither tar nor carbon monoxide, the two most dangerous ingredients of tobacco smoke. Professor John Newton, Director of Health and Improvement at PHE, says:^[18]

“Nicotine is addictive but it’s the many thousands of chemicals in tobacco smoke that are responsible for almost all of the harm caused by smoking. Using nicotine quit aids helps manage cravings and can be one of the solutions to helping you stop for good. Going ‘cold turkey’ is not recommended as it’s the least successful way.”

Key takeaway: nicotine vaping poses far fewer risks than cigarette smoking and is broadly considered to be one of the most effective tools to quit smoking.^[19]

 

Myth #5: NRTs are more effective than vaping

Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) are medicines that provide a low level of nicotine to reduce unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when stopping smoking.^[20] Since NRTs are available on prescription, it’s easy to see why so many assume that NRTs are equally or more effective for stopping smoking than nicotine vaping. The truth about vaping, however, is that it has a higher success rate than traditional nicotine alternatives^[21] – so much so that the NHS believes vaping to be twice as effective as NRTs for stopping smoking.^[22] The NHS is currently encouraging one million smokers to swap cigarettes for vapes under a new swap to stop scheme. I’m looking forward to seeing the results of this but, until then, it’s worth highlighting that 60% of participants in the pilot programme became smoke-free after just four weeks.^[23] Fantastic progress! Key takeaway: people are more likely to stop smoking for at least six months using nicotine e-cigarettes than using nicotine replacement therapy.^[24]

 

Myth #6: We don’t know what goes into vapes

One of the most common vaping myths is that we don’t know exactly what goes into vapes. This is simply not true. E-liquids, e-cigarettes and other vaping products in the UK are subject to some of the strictest regulations in the world.^[25] For one, e-cigarettes are subject to minimum standards of quality and safety as well as strict packaging and labelling requirements under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR). For another, all vape products must be submitted to the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with clear safety information. All reputable and reliable stockists adhere closely to the rules outlined by TRPR and MHRA. Key takeaway: the UK vape industry is strictly regulated with clear rules and regulations designed to equip vapers with the information they need to make informed decisions.^[26]

 

Myth #7: Passive vaping is dangerous

We all know that passive smoking is harmful: people who regularly breathe in second-hand smoke are more likely to get the same diseases as smokers, including lung cancer and heart disease.^[27] But passive vaping risks are nowhere near the same as passive smoking risks because e-cigarettes produce exhaled aerosol, not tobacco smoke. While research into this area is ongoing, evidence so far suggests that passive vaping risks are small, especially when compared to tobacco cigarettes.^[28] Although not causing significant harm, it can be unpleasant to be on the receiving end of secondhand vapour. When vaping in public, it’s always best to be aware of your surroundings and have consideration for others. Key takeaway: passive vaping is not the same as passive smoking and there is no evidence to suggest that second-hand vapour is harmful.^[29]

 

Myth #8: Vaping more frequently creates more risk

When switching from smoking to vaping, ex-smokers often find themselves vaping more frequently than they would typically smoke. It’s human nature to associate the increased intake with increased risk, but fortunately this is not the case. E-cigarettes deliver nicotine in a different way to traditional cigarettes – while cigarettes deliver a quick nicotine hit in a short time, vapes deliver nicotine more slowly. This inevitably prompts a transition period wherein ex-smokers initially vape more to obtain the same amounts of nicotine as they would when smoking a cigarette. Vapers tend to adjust to this difference over time and gradually reduce both the amount they vape and the nicotine strength they intake. Either way, the NHS strongly advocates for ex-smokers using a vape as much as is needed to stop smoking and stay quit.^[30] Key takeaway: it’s normal to vape more frequently than you used to smoke, and doing so is not necessarily more harmful.^[31]

 

Why Switch to Vaping?

When we cut through the misinformation to reveal the truth about vaping, there is overwhelming evidence to support the effectiveness of vaping as a tool to stop smoking. Considered 95% less harmful than smoking^[32] and twice as effective as nicotine patches or gum,^[33] there is no doubt that e-cigarettes carry a fraction of the risk of smoking.^[34] My own experience with vaping is a positive one, having stopped smoking over 12 years ago with the help of the OK Cigalike, and plenty of others have had an equally rewarding experience. With a familiar look and feel to a real cigarette, the OK Cigalike has helped hundreds of ex-smokers to transition away from tobacco products and successfully quit smoking. You can read about their success stories here.