
Vapes are handheld electronic devices for adults that produce inhalable fog-like vapor, often with nicotine and various flavors. The first retail vape was an electronic cigarette designed to look like a tobacco cigarette. Created by Hon Lik, the e-cigarette was released by the China-based company, Ruyan, in the early 2000s.
What is vaping and how does it work?
Vaping, or vaporizing, is the process of heating up raw plant matter or extracts, without combustion. Instead of burning weed, tobacco or hash, vaping gently heats up these substances to limit the release of harmful chemicals and maximize the plant’s intended effects.
Does vape have nicotine?
Nicotine-free vaping is the same as normal vaping. However, it is removed from the e-liquid to create nicotine-free vape juice. Nicotine is one of the most addictive elements of vaping and the main reason many people still vape. So given the option, it is no surprise the users have jumped at the opportunity to carry on vaping without it.
What are the dangers of vaping?
- Prevalence of e-cigarette use. The researchers explained that their analysis outlines the significant health threats of vaping, most notably in youths.
- The long-term effects of vaping. ...
- Future research. ...
What does vape mean?
Vape What does vape mean? To inhale and exhale vapor from an e-cigarette Example "Excuse me gents, while I go vape for a bit." Related Slang Usage General Last Updated: August 12, 2015

What exactly is in a vape?
E-cigarettes, aka JUULs and vape pens, use a battery to heat up a special liquid into an aerosol that users inhale. It's not just harmless water vapor. The "e-juice" that fills the cartridges usually contains nicotine (which is extracted from tobacco), propylene glycol, flavorings and other chemicals.
What is vaping vs smoking?
The difference between smoking and vaping is that smoking delivers nicotine by burning tobacco, which can cause smoking-related illnesses, and vaping can deliver nicotine by heating a liquid in a much less harmful way.
What does vaping do to your body?
2: Research suggests vaping is bad for your heart and lungs. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.
Is vape a form of smoke?
Another commonly misunderstood fact concerning smoking and vaping is that smoking involves nicotine whereas vaping does not. This isn't true. Both vaping and smoking deliver nicotine. In fact, it's the nicotine that makes smokers and vapers hooked to the habit.
Why do people vape?
About 1 in 5 high school students vape, exposing them to nicotine, a highly addictive substance found in tobacco. Adults may use vaping to quit a nicotine addiction, but youth often start with vaping and graduate to cigarettes later. Vaping is likely to keep young people hooked for years.
What are 5 facts about vaping?
10 Things You Need to Know About the Vaping EpidemicE-Cigarettes Contain Nicotine. ... Vapes Contain Other Harmful Chemicals. ... E-cigarettes are not Safe Just Because They are a Water Vapor. ... Young Adults are More Likely to Vape. ... Vaping is Addictive. ... Vaping Could be a Gateway Drug. ... Vaping Causes Heart and Lung Issues.More items...
Do vapes damage lungs?
Lung disease: Vaping can make asthma and other existing lung diseases worse. Breathing in the harmful chemicals from vaping products can cause irreversible (cannot be cured) lung damage, lung disease and, in some cases, death.
Which is better for lungs vaping or smoking?
Research generally accepts that while vaping can harm the lungs and other bodily systems, its impact is much less than tobacco smoking. However, a 2019 study into the long-term health effects of vaping found that people using e-cigarettes had a higher risk of respiratory disease than people who never smoked.
How many puffs of a vape is equal to a cigarette?
When we transfer it into puffs on average, it means that you will have to take 500 hits of vape to smoke as much nicotine as you would with a single cigarette.
What are 5 negative effects of vaping?
Vaping has been linked to lung injury.Rapid onset of coughing.Breathing difficulties.Weight loss.Nausea and vomiting.Diarrhea.
How much nicotine is in a vape compared to a cigarette?
An average tank uses about 3ml of eliquid, if you vaped the whole tank in one session you would be consuming around 36mg of nicotine, which is the equivalent of around 4 average strength (8mg nicotine) cigarettes.
Why are vapes called e-cigarettes?
The original name of ‘e-cigarette’ was chosen for marketing reasons as a way to let smokers know that the devices were an alternative to cigarettes, but it’s also confused a lot of people into believing that they are cigarettes.
What is an e-cigarette?
That has led to a lot of confusion, as many people hear the word “cigarette” and assume an e-cigarette is a high-tech version of a traditional tobacco product. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Electronic cigarettes were designed as a replacement for cigarettes.
How do cigarettes work?
Cigarettes work by burning tobacco leaves. The inhalation of the resulting smoke delivers nicotine to the user, but also 4,000-plus chemicals, including the toxic amalgamation of chemicals known as tar and other chemicals at dangerous levels.
What is fog made of?
In fact, the liquid is mostly propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, both of which are commonly used in food and FDA-approved medicines. The last time you went to a concert and a fog machine was used, the ‘fog’ was likely produced using propylene glycol.
What is a cigarette tube?
We all know what a cigarette is – a paper tube filled with shredded tobacco, usually with a filter at one end – but many people don’t understand exactly what it is that vapers (e-cigarette users) are inhaling from.
Do e-cigarettes smoke?
A small heating element inside the device turns the liquid into a vapor that is then inhaled through a mouthpiece. There’s no combustion, so there’s no smoke. At the heart of any vapor product is the atomizer.
Is there smoke in a vaporizer?
There’s no combustion, so there’s no smoke. At the heart of any vapor product is the atomizer. This contains the coil which heats up in order to vaporize the liquid, but it needs other parts too. Almost all atomizers have a storage tank for liquid. There’s also a wick to carry liquid from the tank to the coil.
What is the condition that a woman developed after vaping?
And a 2012 case report involved a woman who developed a condition called exogenous lipoid pneumonia after vaping for about six months. Doctors said her e-cigarette's oil-based solvents were the likely cause, and her condition improved when she quit vaping.
What are the main components of an e-cigarette?
The main components. E-cigarette liquids, at the bare minimum, have three main components: flavors, sweeteners and solvents. Solvents are substances used to dissolve either nicotine or marijuana-derived compounds including THC or CBD so those ingredients can be inhaled.
What are the ingredients in e-liquid?
Sweeteners include sucralose and ethyl maltol. E-liquid flavors are wide-ranging, and can read like a wine tasting: "notes of vanilla" or "berries and herbal notes.". All of those ingredients — the solvents, the sweeteners and the flavors — are considered "generally recognized as safe" by the Food and Drug Administration.
How do e-cigarettes produce aerosols?
E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating the e-liquid with metal coils. Those metal coils can be composed of a variety of substances, including an alloy of iron, chromium and aluminum called kanthal, or a combination of nickel and chromium.
Can I buy vapes on the street?
Last week, the FDA and CDC warned the public not to buy vapes or vape ingredients on the street, and said "e-cigarette products should not be used by youth, young adults, pregnant women, as well as adults who do not currently use tobacco products.". Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.
Is heating e-liquid toxic?
It's unclear whether some other kind of toxic chemical or pesticide has found its way into the supply of e-liquids. It's also unknown whether heating e-liquids leads to the formation of other compounds not yet documented. And concern is growing that contaminants in counterfeit or street vapes could be behind the illnesses.
Is vaping a cause of pneumonia?
Hundreds of people nationwide have been hospitalized recently with severe cases of pneumonia or other lung illnesses — all believed to be directly linked to vaping. Investigators have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause. But here's what's known about what has been found inside vaping devices.
What is vaping in smoking?
What Is Vaping? Vaping is the inhaling of a vapor created by an electronic cigarette ( e-cigarette ) or other vaping device. E-cigarettes are battery-powered smoking devices. They have cartridges filled with a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and chemicals.
How does vaping affect the brain?
Vaping puts nicotine into the body. Nicotine is highly addictive and can: slow brain development in kids and teens and affect memory, concentration, learning, self-control, attention, and mood. can lead to smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco use.
How to help a teen quit vaping?
Lend your support as your teen tries to quit. Set a good example by taking care of your own health. If you smoke or vape, make the commitment to quit. Talk to your kids about the reports of serious lung damage, and even deaths, in people who vape. Call your doctor right away if your child or teen vapes and has:
Is e-cigarette vapor made of water?
Toxins (poisons): The vapor made from e-cigarettes is not made of water. The vapor contains harmful chemicals and very fine particles that are inhaled into the lungs and exhaled into the environment. Sports: To do their best in sports. Vaping may lead to lung inflammation (irritation). Money: Vaping is expensive!
Does vaping affect mood?
Some of the brain changes are permanent and can affect mood and impulse control later in life. Use of other tobacco products: Studies show that vaping makes it more likely that someone will try other tobacco products, like regular cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, and smokeless tobacco.
Is vaping bad for you?
Unknown health effects: The long-term health consequences of vaping are not known. Recent studies report serious lung damage in people who vape, and even some deaths. Addiction: Addiction in the growing brain may set up pathways for later addiction to other substances.
Can e-cigarettes cause lung damage?
E-cigarettes also: irritate the lungs. may cause serious lung damage and even death. can lead to smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco use. Some people use e-cigarettes to vape marijuana , THC oil, and other dangerous chemicals.
What does "transitive" mean in a cigarette?
: to inhale vapor through the mouth from a usually battery-operated electronic device (such as an electronic cigarette) that heats up and vaporizes a liquid or solid This electronic cigarette … contains a small reservoir of liquid nicotine solution that is vaporized to form an aerosol mist.
What does "inhale" mean?
intransitive verb. : to inhale and exhale vapor from an electronic cigarette or similar device like someone smoking a conventional cigarette. transitive verb. : to inhale or exhale the vapor of.
What is a vape device?
Early devices, such as Hon Liks, used ultrasound to vaporize a pressurized jet of liquid containing nicotine. In more recent times vape devices consist of a battery that heats a coil element with a cotton wick, soaked in vape juice (also known as e-liquid). Vaping is an evolving market with more effective devices and better vape juice flavors ...
Why do people vape?
People vape for a wide number of reasons: cheap cost, flavor choices, safe to use, vaping indoors , preferrable odor , quitting cigarettes , and social image. Most vapers are ex-smokers who are looking to reduce the harm of smoking or reduce the cost.
How does vaping help with nicotine?
Vaping can help people reduce their dependency on cigarettes by using an e-juice or vape juice that contains various levels of nicotine. It's then possible to gradually reduce the level of nicotine contained in your vape juice until it reaches 0mg (zero nicotine).
What is vaping pen?
What is vaping? Vaping is the act of inhaling vapor from an electronic cigarette or vaporizer, now commonly known as a vape pen or a vape mod (depending on its shape and size). Vaping as we know it today began when Hon Lik developed the first modern e-cigarette in 2003.
What is VG in vape juice?
Vape juice is made from a blend of Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG), when purchasing an e-liquid you’ll notice that the PG/VG ratio will be displayed in the product description and on the bottle. Vape juice with a high percentage of VG will produce large clouds of dense vapor with a lower nicotine hit.
Why are vape pens so popular?
One of the reasons that vape pens are so popular is the ease of day-to-day use. Some devices are draw-activated, like a cigarette, or have a simple one-button operation. All the user needs to do is add vape juice and waits a few minutes.
Where are vapes made?
Vape device manufacturers (largely based in Shenzhen, China) took note and since then the vape market has gone from strength to strength. As Chinese manufacturing and vaping technologies develop, devices get smaller and more technologically advanced.
Why are e-cigarettes so popular?
First, many teens believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking. Second, e-cigarettes have a lower per-use cost than traditional cigarettes.
How many chemicals are in e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic. While we don’t know exactly what chemicals are in e-cigarettes, Blaha says “there’s almost no doubt that they expose you to fewer toxic chemicals than traditional cigarettes.”
Is nicotine a substance?
Nicotine is the primary agent in both regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is highly addictive. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is also a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.
Can you get more nicotine from an e-cigarette?
What’s worse, says Blaha, many e-cigarette users get even more nicotine than they would from a tobacco product — you can buy extra-strength cartridges, which have a higher concentration of nicotine, or you can increase the e-cigarette’s voltage to get a greater hit of the substance.
Can you use THC in a vape?
The CDC recommends that people: Do not use THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Avoid using informal sources, such as friends, family or online dealers to obtain a vaping device. Do not modify or add any substances to a vaping device that are not intended by the manufacturer.
Is e-cigarette smoking more popular among youth?
Among youth, e-cigarettes are more popular than any traditional tobacco product. In 2015, the U.S. surgeon general reported that e-cigarette use among high school students had increased by 900%, and 40% of young e-cigarette users had never smoked regular tobacco.
Do e-cigarettes reduce the stigma of smoking?
Both youths and adults find the lack of smoke appealing. With no smell, e-cigarettes reduce the stigma of smoking. “What I find most concerning about the rise of vaping is that people who would’ve never smoked otherwise, especially youth, are taking up the habit,” says Blaha.
What is a vape?
Vapes are handheld electronic devices for adults that produce inhalable fog-like vapor, often with nicotine and various flavors. The first retail vape was an electronic cigarette designed to look like a tobacco cigarette. Created by Hon Lik, the e-cigarette was released by the China-based company, Ruyan, in the early 2000s.
What is vaping juice?
The definition of vaping is the act of inhaling smoke-looking vapor from an electronic cigarette or vape device. Vaping simulates smoking but in a less harmful manner. A flavored nicotine liquid called vape juice (e-juice) is what’s in a vape, but not all vapes contain nicotine.
What is vape atomizer?
Vapor is made in what’s called a vape atomizer, sometimes called a vape tank. It’s a self-contained chamber electrically connected to the vape mod. It houses a resistance heating element—ususally a metal coil—and an absorbent wick saturated with e-juice (containing similar base ingredients to theatre “smoke”).
What size batteries are used in vape mods?
The replaceable batteries in vapes most frequently used in vape mods are 18650, 20700, 21700 sizes. These cells are much more powerful than your average remote controller batteries and require a firm understanding of battery safety.
How many ml of nicotine is in a vape?
High nicotine vape juice typically comes in smaller bottles (30 mL or less), and bottles of lower nicotine juice will typically come in larger bottles (30 mL or more). Nicotine preference depends on the user, but there are general recommendations for the best experience with different devices:
What is a mod in vaping?
The term “mod” is a nod to the early days of vaping when users modified flashlights for more power.
How does a vape work?
All vapes work on the same premise: a battery source ( vape mod) powers a heating element (coil) that vaporizes e-juice in a small chamber (atomizer). The user then inhales the vapor through a small mouthpiece. A vape works as a complete system. No one component is the vape, it’s what you have when it all comes together.
What is vape juice?
The vape juice is heated in e-cigarettes and vape rigs, and it creates an aerosol that users inhale. Vape juice comes in a variety of flavors, including candy, bubblegum and children’s cereals. Johns Hopkins cardiologist Michael Blaha, M.D., M.P.H., discusses vape flavors and other e-liquid ingredients, and how they may affect health, ...
What is the heating coil in e-liquid?
Even the heating coil, which allows the liquid to become an inhalable aerosol, releases new chemical substances and trace metals that go into the user’s lungs. “There are so many ingredients in e-liquids, and to date, no one is taking responsibility to account for them,” notes Blaha.
Is vape juice toxic?
He explains that while there may be production standards for commercial e-cigarette companies, standards for vape shops, off-brand online vendors or “homemade” vape juice blends are less consistent. “Vape juice can contain a variety of things that could be toxic,” Blaha says.
Is vaping harmful to your lungs?
While more research may determine the overall harm from vaping, it is already clear that using “homemade” or unregulated vape juices can introduce unknown and potentially harmful substances into users’ lungs. Another main concern is the addictive nature of nicotine in vape juice or any tobacco product.
Is e-liquid dangerous?
Some of these additives found in e-liquid are dangerous — even deadly. For example, vitamin E acetate has been indicated in EVALI, which stands for e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury. This is a potentially fatal syndrome associated with vaping, and it was on the rise in 2019.
Is Blaha concerned about vaping?
But Blaha is particularly concerned about e-cigarette use and vaping among young people, and the surging incidence of vaping among kids who have never smoked. These young people are vulnerable to becoming addicted to the nicotine in vaping devices and e-cigarettes, and flavors may be making vaping more appealing to them.
