What happens when you quit smoking and start vaping?

Smoking regular tobacco cigarettes is extremely bad for your health, which is why vaping has become a go-to option for people trying to quit smoking.

Vaping electronic cigarettes can be a useful tool for former smokers to stay away from cigarettes, especially if they use a nicotine-containing e-liquid.

There are lots of different types of nicotine replacement products available on the market today, like patches and gum, but e-cigarettes are one of the most popular and proven choices.

It provides a way to keep on top of a nicotine habit whilst also performing the action of smoking, thereby managing the withdrawal symptoms of quitting with a two-pronged approach.

It's easier to transition from smoking to vaping rather than going cold turkey because you can control how much nicotine you take in and when you take it.

But what happens when you quit smoking and start vaping?

The benefits of quitting smoking cigarettes by vaping

When you make the move from smoking to vaping, the improvement in your physical health will start immediately.

Just 48 hours after quitting, all the carbon monoxide residing in your system from cigarette smoke will have been flushed out, and your lungs will start to clean themselves out by removing toxic debris, and begin repairing.

Within twelve weeks, there will be an improvement in blood pressure and circulation, and after one year of quitting you will have massively reduced your risk of heart disease.

But what happens when you quit smoking and start vaping as an alternative? And is using an electronic cigarette that much less harmful than traditional cigarettes? Most smokers notice incredible improvements across the board when they make the switch, and we'll outline some of these many benefits through the article.

Vaping is cheaper than smoking

Vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking and it's cheaper, too. In fact, one study by Cancer Research UK found that smoking is around 2-and-a-half times more expensive than vaping, with the average user saving £1,180 per year by making the transition.

If you consider that the price of a pack of 20 tobacco cigarettes is anywhere between 10 and fifteen pounds in 2022, e-cigs are much cheaper. Disposable vape pens last for around the same amount of time and are around 5 to 10 pounds each, whereas refillable pod vapes are much cheaper still, with you only paying a few pounds on e-liquids every few weeks.

You get your sense of smell and taste back

Smell is a major part of taste as it allows us to detect flavours in food, drinks, and our environment. When we smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products such as cigars or pipes, our sense of smell becomes dulled which means we may not be able to enjoy food as much as before.

This can lead to weight gain in cigarette smokers if people eat more than usual because their brains do not receive signals from their noses telling them what they need to know about the contents of their stomachs. It might seem strange that the funky flavour of your favourite e-liquid will probably taste even better after quitting smoking fully and starting vaping.

No cigarette smoke means your breath is fresher

When you stop smoking your breath will suddenly be fresher, and whilst nicotine is one of the culprits of bad breath, the toxic debris and other chemicals left in your mouth from smoking cigarettes are definitely more guilty.

If you're a smoker, you know how your mouth can feel like it's coated in plaque after a pack of cigarettes. But because e-cigarettes don't contain any tar or other harmful chemicals that cause bad breath. So when you quit smoking and start vaping, not only will your lungs begin to heal themselves right away but also this nasty residue on your teeth as well.

Your teeth and gums will be healthier

Gum disease is another of the relatively common negative health effects of cigarette smoking, so quitting cigarettes can improve your oral health by helping lower the chances of developing periodontal disease over time.

So we know that smoking tobacco cigarettes can damage the gums and cause tooth decay. However, as far as we know vaping does not affect your teeth or gums in any way. Vaping also doesn't cause bad breath, which is a common side effect of smoking.

You won't be coughing all the time

One of the most common side effects experienced by smokers is coughing, which can be an irritant to the throat and lungs. Coughing is a symptom of smoking, and it can occur as a result of irritation caused by smoke entering the airways or lungs.

If you quit smoking while vaping, however, you'll likely find that your coughing will decrease significantly when your lungs and throat aren't forced to inhale harmful smoke —which is fantastic news for anyone who's ever been self-conscious of their "smoker's cough" before.

Your lung function will be better

One of the most important benefits of quitting smoking is that your lung function will improve, and noticeable side effects like shallow breathing and shortness of breath should reduce in severity.

While vapers still have some impairment in their lungs compared to non-smokers and non-vapers (who are at 100% lung function), they generally have much better lung function than tobacco smokers.

You'll notice an improvement in your breathing within one or two weeks after starting vaping as long as you make sure not to expose yourself to secondhand smoke from other people's cigarettes during this period. If possible, try going completely smokeless for two weeks before deciding whether vaping is necessary for you.

This way, if any problems arise when you start using nicotine again but haven't had any since quitting smoking, you'll know just what caused it and know to steer clear.

You will also lower your lung cancer risk, and will be much less likely to get lung disease, which are two of the leading causes of deaths in smokers.

You'll have fewer nicotine cravings

If you're able to quit smoking, you'll be in a better position to get past the nicotine cravings if you monitor your intake with an e-cigarette.

While it's not necessary for everyone who quits smoking through vaping, many people find it easier if they can reduce the amount of nicotine in their e-liquid over time. This process can take weeks or months, depending on how much you started with and what type of device and e-liquid you use, as they can differ in concentration of nicotine.

Try starting with a concentration of nicotine (the addictive substance) similar to that of tobacco cigarettes, and slowly taper off the amount whilst you watch your health improve.

Vaping will reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke

If you smoke cigarettes, you’re more likely to suffer from heart disease and stroke. In fact, smoking is one of the main risk factors for nearly all cardiovascular diseases (CVD). But when it comes to vaping, cardiovascular health risks are much less prevalent.

Vaping doesn't contain tar or carbon monoxide, which means it won't damage your lungs or increase your chances of developing COPD or lung cancer. This also makes it a lot less likely that vaping will cause a heart attack or stroke during pregnancy.

Vaping is a great alternative to smoking, and it can help you quit

Vaping is not only a healthier alternative to smoking, but also cheaper. You can use a vape pen as a smoking cessation tool by managing the nicotine levels in the e-liquid you choose.

When you vape, you’re inhaling vapour instead of smoke—and thus avoiding many of the harmful chemicals and carcinogens found in cigarette smoke (including carbon monoxide). Many vapers say they can breathe easier after switching from tobacco cigarettes to electronic ones (or even better, quitting altogether).

Switch to electronic cigarettes and see your energy levels, bank balance, and overall health improve once you're no longer smoking regular cigarettes.