Are you thinking of taking up vaping? Many people start vaping to help them quit smoking or they might vape CBD to reduce symptoms or pain associated with certain health conditions. If you are going to start vaping, it is important to do it safely. Continue reading this article to find tips on how to vape safely.
Is Vaping Safe?
Very little is still known about vaping’s long-term effects on the body, including the heart and lungs. However, studies such as the study by the British Heart Foundation in 2019, have shown that vaping is less harmful than smoking. For more information on vaping versus smoking, you can watch this video.
The general advice is that if you are not a smoker, you should not take up vaping. While it is safer than smoking cigarettes you are still inhaling substances into your body. For anyone starting vaping, doing it safely is key to minimizing any potential health risks.
How Vaping Works
Before we look at how to vape safely, it is useful to understand how vaping works. Vape devices, often called e-cigarettes contain e-liquid which is vaporized and inhaled. Inside the device, an electric current runs through a coil which heats up and evaporates the e-liquid.
The e-liquid is a mixture of water, flavoring, propylene glycol, and vegetable glycerin. The nicotine content varies allowing the user to choose exactly how much they want. Some people start with high nicotine content and gradually reduce it to zero.
Safe Vaping
There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your vaping experience is safe and enjoyable.
1. Inhale Correctly
You should never inhale as much as you can because this can cause a nicotine rush which may be unpleasant. There are two methods of vaping, which are directly-to-lung and mouth-to-lung (MTL).
Vaping devices with high nicotine levels and high resistance coils often work best with the MTL method. In this method, your mouth holds the vapor for a while before letting it enter the lungs.
The direct lung method works better with devices that have lower nicotine levels and lower resistance. You get more vapor with this method, which involves inhaling straight to the ling and exhaling at once. Sometimes, people compare this method to using a straw to drink.
2. Buy Your Electronic Cigarettes and E-Liquids From Reliable Sellers
To ensure you have a safe experience with vaping, only buy vape pens and juices from sellers you trust. Unfortunately, some e-liquids contain additives such as vitamin E acetate or synthetic cannabinoids, which have been linked to side effects and the risk of lung injury.
When you buy from a reputable distributor, you can be more confident that what you are buying doesn’t contain harmful chemicals. A reliable supplier will only sell e-liquids from reputable producers.
3. Only Use the Charger Sold With Your Vape Device
If you have a rechargeable vaping device, you should only use the charger that came with it. While many chargers look the same and will fit different devices, it doesn’t mean they should be used universally since they were not designed to do the same job.
An e-cigarette charging cable will have a different level of power and resistance than, for example, a cellphone charger. Using a different charger may deliver too many watts to your electronic vape device, damage the battery, and lead to further complications.
4. Store E-Liquids Safely
You should always store your vapor juices in a safe place and out of reach of kids and pets. You also need to keep them in a cool, dark place. Many people like to store them in their fridges. The most important thing is to keep them out of direct sunlight.
5. Stay Hydrated
Not many people know that vaping can dehydrate you. If you are new to vaping, you may notice your mouth feeling dry or your throat scratchy following the extended use of e-cigarettes. This is a common complaint among new vapers. To avoid this, ensure you drink enough water throughout the day, which is beneficial for your health, anyway.
6. You Should Not Burn Dry Coil
You should not use your vape device when it is empty of vaping juice. Neither should you use it immediately after you have filled it up. Leave the juice to soak into the wick for a while before you turn the device on.
If the coil is dry when you try to use your vaping device, it will burn the coil instead of vaporizing the liquid. While this is not necessarily dangerous, your coil may need changing more often and you can get a foul taste when you try to vape.
7. Keep Your Device Clean
You will get a far better experience when you keep your device clean. Over time, residue builds up in the tank and can affect the flavor and the quality of the e-liquid. The best practice is to clean the tank each time you change the e-juice but you should do it at least once a month. Clean your device by submerging the empty tank in warm water.
8. Avoid “Vaper’s Tongue”
You may have heard regular vapers talk about a “vaper’s tongue.” This is a common problem, meaning that you cannot taste the vape juice properly anymore. This happens when your olfactory glands and taste buds need a break. This is nothing to worry about and you can simply change the flavor of your juice periodically to avoid it.
9. Maintain Your Oral Health
Vaping can lead to oral health problems if you are not looking after your mouth and teeth. The best way to avoid problems with oral health when vaping is to use mouthwash in addition to brushing your teeth. Brush your tongue, too, especially after vaping sweetened e-liquids.
10. Avoid “Chain” Vaping
Beginner vapers, especially those who are swapping smoking for vaping, often take puffs too frequently. This can give you a dry hit because the wick hasn’t had a chance to get saturated again. To avoid this, wait 15-30 seconds before inhaling again.
Conclusion
Vaping can be a safer alternative to smoking and help smokers to give up by reducing the amount of nicotine gradually. However, experts do not recommend anyone to start vaping if they are not already a smoker as the long-term health risks are not yet known. To reduce the potential risks to your health, follow the steps in this article to vape safely.
If you have any questions about safe vaping, you can write them in the comments section.
