Current Developments of Smoking and Vaping, Is Vaping Safer?

Abstract

Vape fans claim that vaping is the solution of smoking cessation, but this is still debatable. Even if vape is still considered new, numerous studies show vaping is associated with lung injury (EVALI). Despite this, the trend of vaping is still increasing. This study aims to review current understanding of conventional smoking and vaping and comparing both. Is vaping safer than smoking? Smoking has health risk for lung cancer, COPD, stroke, and others meanwhile vaping has been linked with lung injury (EVALI). Local perfusions were decreased in tobacco smokers after exposure. However, perfusion increased in vaping after exposure. Bronchoalveolar lavage in vape users showed increase of vitamin E acetate possibly causing impairment in lung structure and functionality of surfactant. This is the potential mechanism of EVALI in vape users. Smoking uses the Brinkman Index to determine severity of smoking but there’s no index for vaping because it depends not on how many sticks but how many e-liquids were used. It seems that vape is “safer” rather than smoking but between smoking and vaping both have their own risk in health aspects and it’s safe to assume that neither is safe for use. “Vape is the solution for smoking cessation” needs further research because researchers need years to understand conventional smoking in relation with other diseases. Prospective follow-up studies to determine the risk of vaping on other diseases are needed in the future.