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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Quitting smoking is challenging, but vaping can help transition to a healthier alternative with different nicotine strengths, flavors, and devices.
- Switching to vaping offers physical and psychological benefits, such as improved lung function, taste, smell, and reduced risk of smoking-related illnesses.
- Vaping is not entirely risk-free, but it is a recognized less harmful alternative to smoking and can help smokers quit.
In the last decade, millions of people have quit smoking and started vaping. Are you considering quitting smoking and turning to vape pens also? If so—you can experience many health benefits, including repairing the damage created by smoking cigarettes. In addition, vaping can be more cost-effective and enjoyable than smoking cigarettes.
For an even safer alternative you can even transition to vapes with no nicotine.
With that said, what happens to your body when you quit smoking? It can be a significant change. Here’s what to expect when you switch from cigarettes to vaping devices:
What Happens When You Quit Smoking and Start Vaping
8 Hours
Your body will begin improving after 8 hours of quitting smoking; you may even notice the effects yourself. One of the most significant changes is how the amount of oxygen in your blood returns to normal levels—even if you’re already vaping. That’s because the vapor from your vaping device doesn’t contain the same carbon monoxide levels as cigarettes.
As a result, your body has the chance to start detoxifying the carbon monoxide, meaning you’ll begin to feel healthier within hours because there’s more oxygen in your blood.
24 Hours
Your body will have removed all of the residual carbon monoxides in your body within 24 hours of quitting cigarettes. However, in addition, your lungs will begin removing toxic debris and mucus caused by smoking. That’s because you’re no longer inhaling toxins from smoking, so your body can heal and clean itself. In addition, the vapor from your vaping device doesn’t contain toxins—which helps your lungs recover.
48 Hours
Two days after you quit smoking, you’ll start to witness the most significant effects yet. Your body will continue to thank you for kicking your cigarette habit and switching to vaping. You may witness that your sense of taste has improved. Also, you may feel like your sense of smell is more profound, so you’ll notice more fragrances you missed out on when you smoked cigarettes.
These improvements are possible because your body has the time to repair the receptors in your mouth and nose. These will become damaged when you smoke, but your body can now repair them after you quit.
72 Hours
So you’re three days into your journey? Well done; here come more benefits. You may begin to notice that your breathing has improved after 72 hours. That’s because you’re no longer exposing yourself to the tar clogging your bronchial tubes. As these tubes clear, your breathing and energy levels will grow. You may even see your fitness begin to spike.
Three Months to One Year
You’ll notice the most significant improvements within a year of quitting smoking and switching to vaping. Common improvements include the removal of heavy breathing, coughing, and wheezing—which are all signs your lung health has improved. These changes are a result of your lungs fully removing the damage created by the debris from cigarettes.
Five Years
Most of the negative side effects caused by smoking occur in the long term. These include a higher risk of cancer and heart attacks. After five years, however, your chances of a heart attack caused by smoking dramatically decrease. Better still, vapor created by vaping devices doesn’t cause damage to your heart cells.
Ten Years
Ten years after quitting smoking, the chances of developing lung cancer decrease. That’s because vapor from e-cigarettes doesn’t include the same carcinogens found in cigarette smoke.
Why Switch From Smoking to Vaping?
There are many benefits to quitting smoking and starting to vape. Many of these benefits are excellent for your overall health. Here are some of the top benefits:
1. Vaping Is Cheaper Than Smoking
Are you looking to cut costs and save money? If so, you should quit smoking and vape instead. Depending on where you live and how many cigarettes you smoke, smoking cigarettes can be costly. On the other hand, vaping can be affordable because you can find e-liquids at any price point. Once you have your vaping device, it can cost between $20 and $150. Then, you need to maintain your vaping device and purchase e-liquid, but it’s often cheaper than smoking.
2. Vapor Doesn’t Linger Like Cigarettes
Unfortunately, one of the most significant problems with smoking is the lingering smell. Many people loathe the smell of cigarettes; as a result, this can cause many inconveniences for smokers. In contrast, the smell of vapor doesn’t linger. If you’re concerned about the smell of vapor, you can even purchase a sweet fruity e-liquid that leaves an incredible smell.
3. You Can Vape In Places You Can’t Smoke
In many places in the United States, you can vape indoors without restrictions. However, smoking in public places can be far more challenging. Therefore, vaping can be a more convenient option than smoking.
4. Vaping Is Healthier
Due to the lack of compounds in e-cigarettes, they’re far healthier than smoking cigarettes. Most e-liquids only contain four ingredients: propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine, and vape flavorings. In contrast, tobacco contains up to 5000 chemicals. So, although e-cigarettes aren’t totally safe, they’re healthier than smoking.
5. Vaping Can Help You Quit For Good
Vaping is excellent for helping smokers quit their habit for good. It’s more effective than nicotine replacement therapies—including patches, gum, lozenges, nicotine pouches, and inhalers. It also gives you the ability to slowly lower your nicotine intake and eventually use only nicotine free vape products. There are many reasons why vaping is so good for quitting altogether. These include removing cravings, physical habits, and the social aspect of smoking.
What Are The Possible Side Effects of Vaping?
If you’ve quit smoking, you won’t reduce all the side effects of smoking. Yes, it goes a long way—but it doesn’t remove all the side effects. Here are some things you may encounter:
1. Coughing
Coughing when vaping can occur after you quit smoking. That’s because the tar in your lungs from smoking could be coughed out after you quit smoking. Although coughing isn’t pleasant, it should subside within a few weeks. Stay hydrated during this period; it can speed up the clearance process and remove your cough.
2. Headaches
Headaches may occur when vaping because of the changes in your nicotine levels. In addition, although you can find e-liquid in different strengths, the way your body handles it can be different from cigarettes. As a result, you may experience less or too much nicotine than usual—which could create headaches, nausea, and shakes. The best way to fix this is by finding the perfect strength.
3. Oxygen Dizziness
The rate of blood circulation in your brain and body reduces when you smoke. When you switch to vaping, however, you’ll begin to feel the right levels of oxygen. You may begin to feel dizziness or lightheadedness at the start because you’re not used to this. However, this symptom should pass within two days as your body becomes accustomed to its new oxygen levels.
4. Dry Mouth
You may experience dry mouth—otherwise known as cotton mouth—when you start vaping. That could be a sign that you haven’t found the right strength of e-liquid, you need to slow your vaping down, and your vaping device isn’t working. You can fix your dry mouth by drinking plenty of fluid, maintaining your vaping device, and taking time during vaping sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Summary
Switching from smoking to vaping isn’t always a smooth transition, but the long-term health benefits of quitting cigarettes and turning to vaping are fantastic. You’ll even start to witness the benefits within 8 hours. Start your transition to vaping today; it’s the best decision you’ll make.
