Not all e-cigarettes look alike, and they can be easily hidden away from the eyes of concerned parents. And this is one of the reasons why vaping among teens are on the rise. Let’s take a closer look at the dangers of teen vaping.
What is Vaping?
Vaping is widely popular these days. It’s the term used for inhaling a vapor that comes from an electronic cigarette, also known as an e-cigarette. E-cigarettes come in different looks and sizes, as well as brands. They are battery-powered and rechargeable. They also come in different flavors that make them all the more enticing, especially to teens.
The flavors come from cartridges filled with liquids that contain the flavorings, nicotine, and other chemicals. The e-cigarette heats this liquid and turns it into vapor, which are then inhaled by users.
What are the health effects of teen vaping?
There are many studies that show how better vaping is as an alternative to smoking. However, there are also several studies that show how dangerous it is. The reality is, vaping is fairly new, so there are not enough studies to show how vaping affects the body over a long time frame. What we know is, health experts and clinical studies just show how e-cigarettes can cause serious lung damage. There are also reports of e-cigarettes exploding in users’ mouths, resulting to casualties and even deaths.
Aside from these, vaping also makes you smoke nicotine just like a cigarette. And as we all know, nicotine is addictive. When it comes to teens, this can cause a rather stunted development. It slows down the development of teens’ brains. This can affect memory, concentration, focus, learning, self-control, motivation, attention span, and mood. Smoking early can also affect their predisposition to develop addictions later on in life.
Furthermore, vaping itself can irritate the lungs due to the chemicals in the liquids. Even if the e-cigarettes don’t have nicotine, which is not usual, the chemicals and flavorings are enough to cause lung irritation. It may also cause serious lung damage that may even result to death. Teen vaping may also lead them to smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products later on in life.
Spotting nicotine addiction alongside teen vaping
Now, let’s see if you or your teen are addicted to nicotine in your vapes:
- Do you continue to vape even though you want to stop or think it’s hurting you in some way?
- Do you feel anxious or irritable when you want to use your vape but can’t?
- Do thoughts about vaping interrupt you when you are focused on other activities?
- Do you still vape after getting in trouble with your parents or school for vaping?
- Have you ever tried to stop vaping but couldn’t?
- Do you feel like you have lost control over your vaping?
If all these checks out, then you may need to consider cutting down on your teen’s vaping or nicotine use–or even stopping it for good. Recognizing addiction may help you understand your teen’s behavior around vaping so you can address it the best way.
Withdrawal Symptoms of Nicotine Use
Once your teen stops or cuts down, recognize these withdrawal symptoms:
- Feeling irritable, restless, or jittery
- Having headaches
- Increased sweating
- Feeling sad or down
- Feeling anxious
- Feeling tired or groggy
- Having trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
- Having trouble sleeping
- Feeling hungry
- Having intense cravings for e-cigarettes
Ask for help from a doctor or a health professional on how to manage nicotine withdrawal and the best way to overcome nicotine addiction for good.
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