According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking harms nearly every organ in the body. The lungs take the most damage when a smoker inhales over 4,300 chemicals, including 69 carcinogens, or cancer causing chemicals, from a cigarette. In the figure above, the pink lungs and heart on the left are those of a non-smoker. The black lungs and yellow heart on the right are those of a daily smoker.
 

One in five deaths in the United States are smoking-related, about 443,000 Americans a year, including babies born prematurely due to prenatal maternal smoking and those inhaling second-hand carcinogens. Over 10 times more people have died prematurely from cigarette smoking than have died in all the wars in American history COMBINED. Smoking is estimated to increase the risk of coronary disease and stroke from 2 to 4 times, and of developing lung cancer by 25 times!
 

Vaping is definitely the healthier alternative. There are four main ingredients in an e-liquid: Propylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerin, Nicotine, and flavoring. The first, Propylene Glycol (PG) is a common food additive. Vegetable Glycerin (VG) is a thick, sweet oil derived from vegetables like corn. Pharmaceutical-grade nicotine is an addictive liquid derived from the tobacco plant, the same liquid that makes one addicted to cigarettes. E-liquids are available without nicotine and multiple strengths of nicotine so one can ween themselves off of their addiction without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Flavoring for e-liquids is the same flavoring used in foods you eat every day. 

The American Lung Association has publicly stated that nicotine replacement products, such as vaporizers and e-liquids, help alleviate withdrawal symptoms from nicotine. Just one year after quitting smoking, one’s risk for a heart attack drops sharply. Within 2 to 5 years, risk of stroke drops to that of a non-smoker. Within 5 years, the risk of mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder cancer drop by half. After ten years smoke-free, the risk of lung cancer drops by half.
 

Remember: quitting smoking is tough, but it is the #1 action you can take today to improve your health and reduce your risk of serious health problems in the future. Visit Route 69 Vapor Lounge and we’ll talk to you about a lot of people that have quit smoking with vaping and electronic cigarettes.