Vaping 101

Vaping explained for beginners: FAQ about vaping

I found a great FAQ file that explains vaping in more depth for the non-vaper or novice.  It’s from the Mile High Vapors page (http://www.mhvapors.com/pages/vape-101).  I’m reposting it here for education purposes.

For those new to vaping, we recommend starting by reading this page! 

What is Vaping? 

Vaping is the act of inhaling vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or personal vaporizer. These electronic devices will rapidly heat what is known as e-Liquid or E-juice, to a temperature higher than its boiling point which results in the vaporization of that liquid. 

Is the Vapor Water Vapor?

No, this myth is 100% false. No electronic cigarette smoke is actually water vapor. E-juice or e-Liquid is usually a mixture of  2-5 ingredients... and water is usually not one of them (although small amounts of distilled water are used in some cases). If you are interested, e-Liquids are usually composed of one to four of the following: 

1) Propylene Glycol (PG)

2) Vegetable Glycerin (VG)

4) Pharmaceutical Grade Nicotine  

3) Natural and/or Artificial Flavorings

4) Ethyl Alc. (Small amounts used in some flavorings)

Is Vaping the same as Smoking?

No. Nothing is actually “smoked” when you vape. Smoke, by simple definition is: "The gaseous products of burning material(s) made visible by the presence of small particles of carbon". In the process of vaping no ingredients are ever burned, contrary to traditional smoking.

Does Vaping or Smoking have more nicotine?

One great part about vaping is that the answer to this question is completely up to you! All reputable e-Liquid and E-juice retailers will give you the option of choosing your nicotine level. The options usually available are:

Nicotine content:

0%      or     0 mg/ml  =  No Nicotine

6%      or     6 mg/ml  =  Very Light

1.2%   or   12 mg/ml  =  Light

1.8%   or   18 mg/ml  =  Medium

2.4%   or   24 mg/ml  =  High

No nicotine obviously means that there is absolutely no nicotine when you use this liquid in your vape or e-cig. An example of a reason to purchase this liquid would be someone who has quit smoking and is overcoming his or her nicotine addiction, but still has an oral fixation on the act of smoking. Medium is usually a good starting point for former average to heavy smokers. Someone who smoked light cigarettes may want to start out with light. I would only recommend High or Very High (24 mg/ml or more) to people who formally smoked at least a pack a day or more and who have a serious nicotine addiction.

A simple and very overlooked way to control your nicotine (especially for your first purchase) is to buy a bottle of liquid at a recommended nicotine level following the guidelines above, as well as a bottle of Zero nicotine liquid. Let’s say you decide to start at 18mg/ml... but find it way to high for you. If you have a bottle of 0 mg/ml, you can simply fill your e-cig half with the 18 and half with the zero to make yourself 9 mg/ml. This works for all other ratios you decide to mix, it just involves some simple math.

  

Is Vaping safe? And how does it compare to Traditional Smoking?

I will start this with pointing out that there is no evidence to support vaping is completely safe and 100% risk free. The safest thing to do for anybody is to quit smoking all together. But for those of us who are going to continue to smoke and/or vape, here is the answer. 

The fact is: Vaping consists of inhaling a vapor of usually four ingredients, most of which are commonly ingested on a daily basis by millions of people every day (Click here for more about these ingredients); While Cigarette smokers inhale smoke containing large amounts of tar and an estimated 4000 toxic chemicals! Given that fact alone I will let you draw your own opinion on the differences in safety between smoking and vaping. That being said, only time will tell if vaping is actually risk free or not.

Benefits of Vaping

• Better Health

• No Smoke

• No Smell or lingering odors

• No Tar

• No Carbon Monoxide 

• No yellow teeth, fingers, or walls

• No 4000+ Toxic chemicals

• Much Cheaper than regular smoking

• Can be smoked indoors

• You control how much Nicotine you get 

• No need for any more matches or lighters

• Imagine never going outdoors in the freezing cold for your smoke

• Imagine not missing your favorite game to get outside to smoke