Vaping has become a popular alternative to smoking in recent years, with many people turning to e-cigarettes as a means of quitting.
However, Dr Karan Rajan, a doctor known for sharing health advice on social media, has issued a stark warning about the potential dangers of vaping.
In a frank Instagram video, he stated: “If you think vaping is the best way to quit smoking, you’ve been lied to. First, some vaping maths. A single vaping pod can contain around 60mg of nicotine, depending on the brand and strength.
“For comparison, one cigarette can deliver around 2mg of nicotine to the body, so one vape pod is easily a pack of cigarettes or more and, because vaping is smoother and comes in fun flavours, people can puff away and chain vape through multiple pods.”
Essentially, Dr Rajan warned that vaping may not always be the solution to overcoming nicotine addiction. While it may work for some, he urged people to explore other options before resorting to vaping.
Responding to comments on his post, Dr Rajan clarified that the issue isn’t about vaping versus smoking. He acknowledged that smoking “clearly has more harmful effects”, but suggested there might be safer ways to quit.
His video has since garnered over 140,000 likes, sparking a lively debate in the comments section. Some users advocated for ditching vaping altogether, while others defended its benefits.
One respondent shared their experience, writing: “I’m part of the 7% to 10% that used vaping to quit smoking. That was eight years ago. I haven’t vaped or smoked anything in eight years. It was the only path that worked for me.”
Another added: “Well I used to smoke one pack a day. One vape lasts me almost two weeks, so I will take one pack every two weeks. I wish I could take nothing at all, but I’m working on it.”
A third also wrote: “14 months vape free. Coming from an absolute vape fiend. Please give up. My resting heart-rate dropped from 90bpm to 60bpm. Weird head pains and rashes…..gone. Acne…gone. Mental health is miles better. My anxiety is better.”
What do doctors say about vaping?
Regarding medical opinions on vaping, despite reservations by some like Dr Rajan about the potential harms, the NHS deems nicotine vaping as “substantially less harmful” than smoking cigarettes and recognizes it as an effective quit aid.
The NHS website states: “In recent years, e-cigarettes have become a very popular stop smoking aid in the UK. Also known as vapes or e-cigs, they’re far less harmful than cigarettes, and can help you quit smoking for good. They are not recommended for non-smokers and cannot be sold to people under 18 years old.”
The NHS acknowledges the lack of long-term data on vaping’s implications but emphasizes that, while vaping is preferable to tobacco smoking, it likely isn’t without risk. It adds: “Vaping is not completely harmless. We only recommend it for adult smokers, to support quitting smoking and staying quit.”
For optimal health, it’s recommended to steer clear of both smoking and vaping. However, if you’re looking to quit smoking, it’s advisable to eventually give up vaping as well.
If you do choose to vape, it’s essential to seek guidance from a vape shop or Stop Smoking Service first. This is because finding the right device and nicotine strength for your needs is vital, and you should only use it as much as necessary to control your cravings.