Is Vaping Healthier than Smoking?

Five Common Vaping Myths Debunked

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your heart and lungs – and that includes vaping.

Companies manufacturing e-cigarettes have touted them as the healthier alternative to conventional cigarettes. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that e-cigarettes are undoubtedly harmful to health and that they are not safer alternatives to regular cigarettes.

The vaping situation in Singapore has worsened steadily. There have been reports of vaping becoming increasingly popular among young adults, with e-cigarette and accessories being sold openly on messaging apps and social media platforms despite being banned in Singapore. The purchase, use, or possession of vapes jumped 58 per cent to about 7,900 cases in 2023, from about 5,000 cases in 2022.

Here, we look into five common health misconceptions associated with vaping.

Myth #1: E-cigarettes are less addictive compared to conventional cigarettes

The assumption is that e-cigarettes do not contain nicotine, which is why they are safer than cigarettes. Existing evidence, however, shows that vapes have been found to contain nicotine despite been marketed as containing zero percent nicotine.

Myth #2: It’s just water vapour

The e-liquid, or e-juice, found in these e-cigarettes contain additives, flavours, and chemicals that can be harmful to people’s health. Some common chemicals found in vapes are nicotine, cancer-causing agents, metal nanoparticles, particulate matter, and vitamin E acetate.

Myth #3: Picking up vaping is better than picking up tobacco cigarettes

E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which make them just as addictive as smoking cigarettes. Studies around the world have reported that youths who have never smoked, but experimented with vapes, are more likely to progress to conventional cigarettes.

Myth #4: Vaping can help one to quit smoking

E-cigarette brands often market their products as an effective way to quit smoking. However, e-cigarettes are currently not recognised by the World Health Organisation as a legitimate cessation aid because there are no conclusive scientific evidence proving their safety and efficacy.

Myth #5: Vaping is better than smoking because it protects my loved ones from second-hand smoke

While e-cigarettes do not emit smoke, the e-cigarettes emissions do contain harmful chemicals including nicotine and other volatile organic compounds. The effects of second-hand e-cigarette vapour can be similar to second-hand cigarette smoke.

Vaping is no less dangerous than smoking. Furthermore, explosions and burns have been reported with e-cigarettes and vaping devices while charging due to defective batteries.

If you or your loved ones are ready to quit smoking, do note that e-cigarette is not a legitimate cessation aid. Raffles Medical has a Smoking Cessation Programme that you can expect to receive one-on-one support from a nurse counsellor either in-person or virtually.

References:

https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/iquit/e-cig
https://www.hsa.gov.sg/consumer-safety/articles/vaping-enforcement-in-singapore
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/tobacco-e-cigarettes