Smoking is linked to more than two dozen diseases and conditions, including cancer and heart disease. Even though vaping is less harmful than smoking, there are still consequences for you to consider.
Health impacts
Tobacco use is one of the main risk factors for several chronic diseases. Each year more than 1,000 New Brunswickers die of cancers, cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, and other conditions attributable to tobacco use. The World Health Organization estimates that tobacco kills up to half its users, making it one of the world’s greatest public health threats.
Of the more than 4,000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke, hundreds are toxic. At least 70 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer.
All people who smoke are at increased risk for:
- problems with their heart and blood vessels
- certain types of cancers
- lung and respiratory problems
- premature death
There is also increased risk for:
- cancer of the cervix
- problems with periods (menstrual problems)
- problems getting pregnant (fertility problems)
- problems with erections (impotence/erectile dysfunction)
For people who are pregnant, risks also include:
- premature delivery
- having a low birth weight baby
Second-hand Smoke
- Second-hand smoke is the smoke that comes from a burning tobacco product and the smoke exhaled by a person who is smoking. Many of the chemicals in tobacco smoke are therefore also found in second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and adults who do not smoke.
- Some key facts about second-hand smoke:
- In 2012, second-hand smoke was responsible for 993 deaths in Canada.
- There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Even brief exposure can be harmful to health.
- People who do not smoke but live with someone who smokes have a 30% increased risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
- In 2015, second-hand smoke caused 429 out of 7,112 new lung cancer cases and 131 out of 926 new cervical cancer cases.
- Second-hand smoke is a major risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Infants and children exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of respiratory illnesses and ear infections. Second-hand smoke exposure can cause more severe asthma attacks in children with asthma.
It will take several decades to realize the full extent of any potential harm associated with vaping. Vapes almost always contain nicotine and nicotine is highly addictive. This means if you start vaping, it may be hard for you to stop.
The current estimated harm associated with modern e-cigarettes or “vapes” is one third of the harm associated with tobacco smoking for respiratory, cardiac, and cancer-related illnesses. However, less harmful than smoking does not mean safe. Smoking kills half of all people who smoke long-term.
Research conducted on vaping to date has highlighted some of the following potential risks:
- Vaping increases risk for respiratory disease independent of cigarette smoking. This includes asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- There are known carcinogens in e-cigarettes. Carcinogens are cancer causing substances.
- Daily e-cigarette use is associated with increased odds of a heart attack. Those odds are further increased by dual use of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes (the most common use pattern among e-cigarettes users) making dual use more dangerous than using either product alone.
- Nicotine has also been shown to be linked to worsened symptoms of mental illness and has particular impacts on the young brain.
- Many people who vape use e-cigarettes to cope with stress or anxiety. There is emerging evidence of a link between quitting vaping and improvements in mental health symptoms. Survey data shows support for this link between quitting nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and improved mental health outcomes:
- 90% of those who quit said they felt less stressed, anxious, or depressed,
- 47% of respondents who quit vaping reported that when they quit vaping they felt more in control, and
- 78% of respondents who reported ever vaping but had not quit said they would feel better about themselves if they quit vaping.
The use of vaping products outside of the legal market, which are not subject to any controls or oversight, can pose additional risks to health and safety. Do not modify vaping products or add any substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer.
Vaping and youth health
For more information on how vaping impact youth health, click here.
Nicotine is highly addictive. Current e-cigarette products deliver nicotine as efficiently as a cigarette. The use of nicotine salts lowers the pH of e-liquids, allowing much higher concentrations of nicotine to be inhaled with less irritation.
The nicotine content of many e-cigarettes also raises concerns about the potential for addiction. It is important to be aware that vaping product can deliver more or less nicotine than a cigarette.
Nicotine Pouches
Health Canada warns that nicotine pouches should not be used recreationally, by nonsmokers, by people under the age of 18, or by others at risk of nicotine’s toxic effects. Do not buy or use any unauthorized nicotine pouches. Always keep nicotine products out of the reach of children and teenagers. For more information from Health Canada on nicotine pouches click here.
Nicotine and mental health
- Studies have shown that nicotine can worsen anxiety symptoms and amplify feeling of depression.
- Nicotine use – whether through smoking or vaping – can increase stress levels. Many people believe nicotine containing products can relieve stress and anxiety, giving the illusion of nicotine as a stress reliever. They might be interpreting the ability of the products to curb the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal as a beneficial effect on mental health. The irony is that while you may experience temporary relief from stress on a cognitive level, the body is experiencing increased stress. Your blood pressure and heart rate increases, muscles become tense, and less oxygen is available to the body and brain.
Nicotine and Youth
- Adolescence is a time of increased susceptibility to the harmful effects of nicotine, including physical dependence and addiction.
- Nicotine can interfere with healthy teen brain development. A person's brain continues developing into their mid-20s and young people can become dependent on nicotine with lower levels of exposure than adults.
- Youth are uniquely at risk for long-term, long-lasting effects of exposing their developing brains to nicotine. These risks include nicotine addiction, mood disorders, and permanent lowering of impulse control.
- Nicotine use during adolescence can disrupt the formation of brain circuits that control attention, learning, emotional regulation, and increase susceptibility to other addictions. Research has shown early age of nicotine use and pleasurable initial experiences are correlated with daily use and lifetime nicotine dependence.