A few decades ago, smoking tobacco was thought to be good for health. It remained the case for a short time until researchers discovered its harmful effects on the human body. Times kept changing, and different kinds of tobacco products emerged. Young individuals got also affected by all this. Smoking cigars and chewing tobacco became the first few ways of consuming tobacco. Then in the early 19th century, cigarettes first emerged in the United States, which spread the world like a virus. Cigars became an elite luxury item, especially the Cuban brands. Sheesha/Hookah also became very popular, but it is also very harmful and dangerous to human health.
In the current era, electronic cigarettes are replacing harmful cigarettes. A weak excuse associated with e-cigarettes is that they have less nicotine or no tar. Although it clearly and ultimately has a negative impact on human life.
Undoubtedly, any sort of addiction is a curse and a disaster. The growing trend of e-cigarettes among Pakistani youth leads to addiction. Smoking cigarettes do not form these clouds of smoke, but when smoking e-cigarettes, clouds of smoke can be seen around them. Here the big question arises why has it become more popular?
Young people who have just entered college take up smoking as a fashion and style or to prove their worth among other young people and peers. Statistics show that there are about 24 million smokers in Pakistan. Today, electronic cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people.
That being said, it is not without problems. In addition, vaping is equally bad for health. There is not enough research available at the moment, but one thing is for sure, it is neither safe nor harmless. People who smoke e-cigarettes say that people are drawn to them because it is better than cigarettes, but e-cigarette smoke contains nicotine, which is quite harmful to human lungs. Vaping contains vegetable glycerine, which is used in vegetable oil, along with propylene glycol, which is used in drugs and foods for flavouring, and the third thing is nicotine.
Vapers satisfy themselves by saying that it is not very harmful, but the reality is that they are pretty dangerous. Those who are into vaping say it’s not as harmful as smoking cigarettes because just two drags of smoking can damage your lungs more than vaping. However, the logic is out of this world.
So what’s the difference between vaping and smoking cigarettes? Experts say that e-cigarettes can help quit cigarette smoking, but they also have problems. If we ignore the damage it does to our bodies, it can be said that Vaping is a blessing in disguise.
About 41 million people worldwide use e-cigarettes as an alternative to cigarettes. However, questions have been raised about vaping. Is it safe? What is behind the spread of e-cigarette infections in the United States? Banning or restricting their use in public places is also currently being discussed.
Electronic cigarettes are similar to regular cigarettes but differ in colour and taste. Tobacco smoke contains about 7,000 harmful chemicals that can cause cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. Accurate information about e-cigarettes is currently limited, but experts believe they have fewer toxic chemicals than cigarettes as they contain less tar and less carbon monoxide.
However, experts also believe that heating and inhaling chemicals are not suitable for health. E-cigarettes can also cause problems for human health, but e-cigarettes are more effortless to smoke than cigarettes, which may be why they are becoming more popular among young men and women.
According to many young girls, they still cannot smoke e-cigarettes at home. Sometimes the looks of others become agonizing. Some girls even say that e-cigarettes have helped them quit smoking. They steam before their parents. Recent studies show that smoking among teenage boys and girls is increasing, and experts explain various reasons.
Various studies show that most teenagers aged between 12 and 17 are attracted to e-cigarettes because of peer pressure that presents them as worthy individuals in front of their friends. Initially, they start vaping as an experiment and later begin believing that vaping provides them with mental satisfaction. When the nicotine in their body starts to decrease, its adverse effects become apparent.
E-cigarettes, also known as Vapes, are not regulated correctly in Pakistan because they are a new phenomenon in Pakistan and their health effects still need to be discovered. At least 40 countries of the world have restricted the use of Vapes, and their sales and imports are limited. However, Pakistan does not have any specific bans or laws regarding e-cigarettes. Unlike cigarettes, e-cigarettes are legal in India, but the sale of e-cigarettes is illegal; however, cigarettes are readily available. In the UK, the vaping regulations are the clearest, dictating the amount of nicotine and even the size of vaping containers. In the United States, vaping laws are established by various states and cities. Some places restrict certain flavours, and some entirely ban the item.
Right or wrong, e-cigarettes/Vapes are believed to be less harmful than cigarettes. This is why some people turn to smoke vapes to quit smoking. Some users feel that vaping can eliminate the foul smell of tobacco and reduce the amount of nicotine if needed.
As per government officials, policy work is underway on the details of e-cigarettes and vaping. These may be banned entirely or heavily regulated. It will prevent using e-cigarettes and vapes because initial international studies have also proven that they are harmful to health.
Many Health professionals believe that the main ingredient is nicotine, and e-cigarettes and cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is a very strong addictive substance, especially for the young generation. If teenagers use e-cigarettes, the long-term effects are undoubtedly very harmful.
The good news is that Pakistan’s government favours regulating and banning e-cigarettes. The real problem is its accessibility and easy availability, which is increasing day by day. Most health experts also warn against e-cigarettes. Actual figures are not yet available. Research on the adverse and harmful effects of e-cigarettes is ongoing, and the debate may continue. The research and analytics will take years to gather complete information, but one thing is definite: vaping harms human health.