UK experts reviewed international evidence in 2022 and found that, in the short and medium term, vaping poses only a small fraction of the risks of smoking. Traditional cigarettes burn tobacco and release thousands of chemicals — many of them toxic, and around 70 are known to cause cancer. Most of these harmful substances, including tar and carbon monoxide, are not present in vape aerosol.
People who switch completely from smoking to vaping reduce their exposure to toxins linked to cancer, lung disease, heart disease, and stroke. Because vaping does not involve combustion, it significantly lowers contact with many of the harmful by-products found in cigarette smoke.
Nicotine vapes are also considered one of the most effective tools for quitting smoking. Evidence shows that nicotine vapes can be more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies such as patches or gum. Many users find vaping helpful because it mimics the hand-to-mouth action of smoking and provides a similar sensation, often called a “throat hit.”
Choosing an e-liquid with an appropriate nicotine strength is important to help reduce withdrawal symptoms and the urge to smoke. For adult smokers, switching completely to vaping is widely considered a better alternative than continuing to smoke cigarettes.
