Vaping is a trend that seems to be here to stay. You’ve probably heard about it, and perhaps you’ve even seen someone take a puff on a strange-looking device before blowing a thick white cloud that smelled like strawberries and cream.

But how is vaping different from smoking? How does it work, and is it less harmful to your health than smoking regular cigarettes? Although vaping can be an alternative to smoking, there are a lot of differences between the two. And even though vaping is not considered harmless, it is still considered safer than cigarettes and, better yet, it can help you quit smoking. 

Let’s learn how vaping is different from smoking.

1. Vaping could help you quit smoking

Many smokers turn to vaping to help them quit. On the other hand, it’s unlikely that vapers might turn to smoking to help them quit vaping.

What makes it so hard for smokers to quit is their nicotine addiction. When they turn to vaping, they can decide how much nicotine they want in the e-liquid. This means they can gradually decrease the level of nicotine they consume until they feel happy with vaping a low level of nicotine or none at all.

This is why vaping is often seen as an efficient way to quit smoking.

2. Vaping devices produce vapour instead of smoke

When you light a cigarette, the tobacco it contains creates smoke that you inhale. But you also inhale some nasty chemicals that can unsurprisingly harm your health.

Vaping is different. Instead of burning tobacco leaves to create smoke, vaping involves heating a liquid until it becomes vapour. This vapour still contains some chemicals, but inhaling it is less harmful than inhaling cigarette smoke.

E-liquid is also called e-juice or vape juice. It mostly contains vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol, and the ratio of these two ingredients determines how thick your vapour clouds will be.

3. Different types of devices can be used for vaping

A cigarette is a little roll of paper filled up with tobacco. One of the most important differences between vaping and smoking is that vapers can choose between different devices.

There are disposable electronic cigarettes, also called e-cigarettes or cigalikes, which look like regular cigarettes and can’t be refilled with e-liquid after use. Refillable e-cigarettes, vape pens, and vape pods are also available.

These are all battery-powered devices that contain a heating element and a cartridge filled with e-liquid.

4. E-liquid comes in a variety of flavours

Whether or not e-liquid contains nicotine, it can come in a seemingly endless variety of flavours. For many vapers, this makes vaping more fun and exciting than smoking.

How about a vape that tastes like fruits, desserts, candy, or your favourite drink? Many options are available, and it’s up to you to experiment and find your favourite flavours.

Of course, some vapers prefer sticking to just one e-liquid flavour. But they could then develop a vaper’s tongue, a condition that makes it difficult for them to taste their vape. When that happens, simply trying a new flavour should solve the problem.

5. Vaping exposes you to fewer chemicals

Did you know there were more than 7000 chemicals in cigarette smoke? Many of these chemicals can cause cancer, lung disease, stroke and heart disease, so inhaling them daily is not without risk.

When you switch to vaping, you still get exposed to potentially harmful chemicals. But you get exposed to less of them, which does make vaping better for your health than smoking. The vapour has no tar or carbon monoxide, which is already an improvement.

6. Secondhand vapour exposure is not currently a concern

Another way vaping differs from smoking is that secondhand vapour exposure is not currently a concern. Secondhand cigarette smoke, however, can harm anyone inhaling it, especially young children.

Of course, since vaping hasn’t been around for as long as smoking, its long-term health effects are still mostly unknown. Despite this lack of long-term data, vaping is still safer than smoking.

7. Vaping can help you save money in the long run

Finally, although buying a vape starter kit is usually more expensive than buying a pack of cigarettes, vaping is more affordable than smoking in the long run. A small bottle of e-liquid can last a long time, and if you get a quality vaping device and take good care of it, you won’t have to get another one anytime soon.

So switching to vaping could be a good move if you want to quit smoking because it’s unhealthy and expensive.