The Cycle Of The Smoking Habit
The cycle of the smoking habit and nicotine addiction is one that many find hard to quit. Thankfully, there are safer options to get your fix, like vaping. The more you smoke, the more your body needs to sustain those pleasurable feelings. Over time, you will develop a smoking routine that integrates with social activities, work schedules, and other triggers.
For instance, as soon as the phone rings, you may grab a cup of coffee and light-up as a source of habit. You probably arent even aware that youre doing these things because they become second nature.
Triggers are another significant part of nicotine addiction. Do you notice that when you are stressed out, you reach for your cigarettes to calm you down? If the problems of the day are grating on your nerves, you may find solace in a couple of cigarettes in the great outdoors.
The cycle of smoking means that if you want to keep feeling the pleasure that calms you down, you need to keep smoking. Once you break that cycle, your body goes through withdrawal.
What Happens After 1 Week Of Not Smoking
After you quit smoking, a lot of good things happen to your body pretty quickly. Within 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure go down. In 12 hours, the carbon monoxide levels in your body go back to normal. And within a couple of weeks, your circulation improves and youre not coughing or wheezing as often.
Reports Of Deaths Related To Vaping
The Food and Drug Administration has alerted the public to thousands of reports of serious lung illnesses associated with vaping, including dozens of deaths. They are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the cause of these illnesses. Many of the suspect products tested by the states or federal health officials have been identified as vaping products containing THC, the main psychotropic ingredient in marijuana. Some of the patients reported a mixture of THC and nicotine and some reported vaping nicotine alone. While the CDC and FDA continue to investigate possible other contributing substances, CDC has identified a thickening agentVitamin E acetateas a chemical of concern among people with e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injuries. They recommend that people should not use any product containing Vitamin E acetate, or any vaping products containing THC particularly from informal sources like friends, family, or in-person and online dealers. They also warn against modifying any products purchased in stores, or using any vaping products bought on the street. People, including health professionals, should report any adverse effects of vaping products. The CDC has posted an information page for consumers.
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Is Vaping More Addictive Than Cigarettes
Etter et al. concluded that e- cigarettes are less addictive than tobacco cigarettes and their addictive potential is comparable to nicotine gums , although they also found that users of nicotine -containing e- cigarettes presented higher dependence ratings compared to the users of nicotine -free e- cigarettes .
Teen Vaping As A Behavioral Addiction
Behavioral addiction, or process addiction, is linked to a particular behavior rather than a substance. Behavioral addictions have the same components of substance addiction: compulsive behavior, tolerance, and reward, even at risk to ones health.
Behavioral addictions are not common on their own, but a behavioral addiction can provide some mild reinforcement for other addictions.
For example, someone may enjoy vaping with friends, so the social aspect reinforces the behavior in addition to the substance.
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The Adolescent Brain And Addiction
It takes the brain about 25 years to fully develop, meaning that it is still developing during the adolescent years. During this time, the limbic system, which is responsible for emotion, develops quickly. The pre-frontal cortex, which is responsible for logic and reasoning, is much slower to develop in teens. Therefore, we tend to see risk-taking in these years, sometimes in the form of drug use. For many adolescents, vaping may be their first experience with drugs.
Research also suggests that the earlier the onset of drug use, the more likely a person will develop a substance abuse problem. This correlates with brain maturation and susceptibility to addiction in the early years.
How Bad Is Addiction
Nicotine addiction is dangerous because it increases the risk that a person can be a lifelong tobacco user. Young people are especially susceptible to nicotine addiction because their brains are still developing. Nicotine can rewire the brain to become addicted to other drugs.
Cigarettes are especially dangerous because they contain thousands of harmful chemicals. These chemicals can harm every organ in the body and many increase cancer risk.
Some studies claim e-cigarettes are more addictive, while others say they are less addictive. But e-cigarettes have the ability to deliver nicotine faster and in greater amounts to the brain. For example, high voltage e-cigarettes can heat the vape juice at higher temperatures, causing a greater hit of nicotine.
Nicotine addiction leads to more tobacco use, which can cause more health problems.
Complications of smoking include:
- Pregnancy complications
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Addressing Nicotine Addiction From Vaping
If you believe that your child has developed a nicotine addiction from vaping, there are steps you can take to help them quit.
Here is what the Mayo Clinic recommends if your child has a nicotine addiction:
- Set a positive example. Do not smoke or use e-cigarette products yourself.
- Do not get angry with your teen. Calmly voice your concerns instead.
- Find out what your teen does not like about using vape products .
- Work with your teen to help them stop vaping and using other nicotine products.
Thankfully, there are many medical and informational resources available to help those addicted to nicotine.
Addicted To Vaping Symptoms
10. You evaluate the amount of eLiquid left in your tank before leaving the house.
9. You begin to panic when you only have one fresh atomizer left.
8. You learned the art of stealth vaping when youre in a No Smoking area.
7. You establish a hierarchy with fellow ecig users by the amount of vapor one produces.
6. You find yourself explaining ohms, amperage and wattage to others.
5. You get out of bed in the middle of the night because you forgot to charge your battery.
4. You bought a lanyard for your ecig.
3. You spend as much time vaping as you do breathing air.
2. You realize your ecig has become a part of your body because its always in your hand.
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Why Is Nicotine Dangerous
Nicotine is highly addictive and dangerous because it rewires a persons brain to crave the drug.
One of the most at-risk groups for nicotine addiction is teenagers.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the human brain does not stop developing until the age of 25. Until this time, the brain builds stronger connections, called synapses, that link nicotine to pleasure. As a result, teenagers are at a higher risk of addiction than adults.
Sadly, vaping is on the rise among teenagers. In 2018, 1 in 5 high schoolers used vape products at least once over a months timespan, according to the Surgeon General.
Why Is It So Hard To Quit Tobacco
Stopping or cutting back on tobacco causes symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Withdrawal is both physical and mental. Physically, your body is reacting to the absence of nicotine. Mentally, you are faced with giving up a habit, which calls for a major change in behavior. Emotionally, you might feel like as if youve lost your best friend. Studies have shown that smokeless tobacco users have as much trouble giving up tobacco as people who want to quit smoking cigarettes.
People who have used tobacco regularly for a few weeks or longer will have withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop or greatly reduce the amount they use. Theres no danger in nicotine withdrawal, but the symptoms can be uncomfortable. They usually start within a few hours and peak about 2 to 3 days later when most of the nicotine and its by-products are out of the body. Withdrawal symptoms can last a few days to up to several weeks. They get better every day that a person stays tobacco-free.
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms can include any of the following:
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Feelings of frustration, impatience, and anger
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping, including trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and having bad dreams or even nightmares
- Trouble concentrating
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What The Experts Say
Research suggests that vaping THC oil, especially oil that contains vitamin E acetate, can be particularly harmful to the lungs. Vitamin E acetate, which is regularly added to THC when preparing it for use in e-cigarettes and vaping devices, is particularly harmful when it’s inhaled.
In 2019, the dangers of vaping came to light. In September of that year, health officials began investigating an outbreak of a severe lung disease associated with vaping and e-cigarettes. By December, 2,561 cases of the lung disease often referred to as e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury had resulted in hospitalization or death.
Nearly 70 deaths have been confirmed from EVALI, spanning 29 states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, 82% of people hospitalized reported using THC-containing products, with 33% reporting the use of these products exclusively.
Currently, the CDC recommends that people avoid using e-cigarettes and vaping productsâparticularly those that contain THC oil. The Food and Drug Administration has joined the CDC in this recommendation.
Vaping THC oil just once can significantly impact your lungs. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that first-time and infrequent users of marijuana were more likely to experience adverse reactions from vaping THC oil.
Teen Vaping Addiction: How To Get Your Teen To Stop Vaping
Using e-cigarettes is now a teen epidemic. Between 2017 and 2018, e-cigarette use among middle schoolers increased by 48 percent and among high schoolers by 78 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. More than a quarter of all high school students are frequent e-cigarette users. 28 percent vaping more than 20 times per month.
About a year ago, the trend hit home for Keri Williams, 42, a banking business systems consultant in Charlotte, North Carolina. Thats when the mom of five discovered that her children Amias, 16, and Kayla, 15, had been vaping on and off for about a year using a popular device called JUUL.
When Williams found out both of her teens were vaping, she made them keep their bedroom doors open unless they were changing clothes. She also took away their cellphones and media for one month. I wanted to go big so they understood just how serious this was, Williams says.
She was right to be concerned. Almost all e-cigarettes contain nicotine, even those that claim they dont, because theres no FDA oversight of the manufacturing, says Jennifer Hobbs Folkenroth, national senior director, tobacco control at American Lung Association.
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Can You Smoke Nicotine And Not Get Addicted
People that arent strongly dependent on nicotine may not have many withdrawal symptoms when they stop. Even if you do not strongly depend on nicotine, you may still get strong urges to smoke. Smoking is an addiction and people smoke for physical, mental, and emotional reasons.
Different Methods To Try
1. Cold Turkey Method
One common method of quitting vaping is the Cold Turkey Method. This is when you quit vaping with not even a drag method, meaning you dont ever succumb to smoking once you decide to stop, not even to smoke a bit when offered it by other people. You must set a date in the beginning to quit cold turkey and stick to it. You may feel more symptoms of withdrawal with this method. It is particularly important to get the support of your friends and family to hold you accountable for vaping and encourage you to push through symptoms and cravings.
2. Reductionary Method
Another method is called the Reductionary Method, where you slowly reduce the amount of nicotine you intake in your vape over time. This is a more flexible method you can reduce the amount of nicotine at a rate that works for you. Remember that reducing the nicotine level too fast is more likely to cause a relapse because of the withdrawal symptoms. It helps to find vape juice that is available in increments of nicotine, from your current level all the way down to zero. It is also important to have support from friends and family and to make sure youre reducing your nicotine at a suitable pace, not too slow and not too fast.
3. Nicotine Replacement Therapy
4. Natural Methods
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How Long Does It Take For Lungs To Heal From Vaping
After two weeks: your circulation and lung function begin to improve. After one to nine months: clear and deeper breathing gradually returns you have less coughing and shortness of breath you regain the ability to cough productively instead of hacking, which cleans your lungs and reduce your risk of infection.
What Does Nicotine Do
Nicotine is addictive because it affects part of the brain that is involved in ârewarding behaviourâ.
Nicotine has some side effects, like nausea and vomiting. Smokers have become used to these types of effects. However, non-smokers who get exposed to nicotine could experience this. People who donât smoke should not use nicotine.
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Why Is Nicotine Addictive
The first cigarette you smoke wont always be pleasant. Many people report feeling dizzy and having an upset stomach. These feelings may be accompanied by a headache too. However, as you continue to smoke, your body builds resistance to the drug, and the effects are no longer bothersome.
The body quickly builds tolerance and needs more to bring the same euphoric feeling. Once you set a pattern and smoke so many cigarettes each day, your body learns to adjust, and it craves that same level of nicotine to function. The pleasurable effects are hard to live without.
Additionally, the addiction disrupts the bodys natural balance, and without cigarettes, you will no longer feel normal. Just like any other addiction, there are many psychological components as well as physical ones.
How You Can Help
Next, its important to have a conversation with your teen about vaping and it should be a conversation, not a lecture. Here are some suggestions on how to approach the subject:
The truth is, you cant force your teen to quit vaping. But your influence can make a difference. Mr. Bynum says his mom played a big part in getting him to attend the nicotine cessation program at UT Southwestern. She was worried for me, he says.
“The U.S. Surgeon General notes that addiction is especially risky for teens and young adults, because the brain is more vulnerable to addiction while its still developing, through about age 25.”
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Vaping Facts You Need To Know
If you have thought about trying to kick a smoking habit, youre not alone. Nearly 7 of 10 smokers say they want to stop. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health smoking harms nearly every organ in your body, including your heart. Nearly one-third of deaths from heart disease are the result of smoking and secondhand smoke.
You might be tempted to turn to electronic cigarettes as a way to ease the transition from traditional cigarettes to not smoking at all. But is smoking e-cigarettes better for you than using tobacco products? Can e-cigarettes help you to stop smoking once and for all? Michael Blaha, M.D., M.P.H., director of clinical research at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, shares health information about vaping.
Vaping Addiction: Are Social Trends Addictive
Vaping has become a trendy habit, which is also addictive. After the vaping boom on the market in 2008, vaping has gained a lot of popularity among people. From teens to individuals who are trying to quit smoking, the number of people who vape keeps increasing. According to data presented by Euromonitor International, around 20.8 million people vape across the globe, with 43.2% of all users located in the U.S.
E-pens, vaporizers,e-cigs, e-pipes the range of electronic nicotine delivery systems is impressive. Whats more, you can get a new kit or replace your old one in no time. From atomizers and inhalers to a wide variety of e-liquids and flavors, vape shops and websites have it all. In fact, there are more than 400 brands available.
Forums and clubs promote vaping, and all this social pressure and positive image contribute to vaping addiction. One of the reasons that have led to the belief that vaping is less harmful is the lack of toxins, such as tar and other chemicals. However, a recent study conducted by the John Hopkins Boomerang School of Public Health showed that e-liquids also contain toxic ingredients and may have adverse effects on the user.
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