- Vaping can have serious and sometimes fatal side effects on the body
- It usually takes 72 hours for nicotine to get out of the body’s system
Disposable vapes are set to be banned to stop children from becoming addicted to the brightly-coloured and sweet-flavoured e-cigarettes.
Officials are expected to unveil proposals next week setting out that the devices will be scrapped amid concerns that they are ‘almost entirely aimed at kids’.
Medics have spent years warning of the side effects of vaping, ranging from mild throat and mouth irritation to potentially fatal lung and heart disease.
But with millions of Brits now expected to give up disposable vapes, doctors have revealed what happens to your body after you quit and their best tips on giving up the addiction.
Here, one doctor tells MailOnline how, just after one week, the risks of heart disease and high blood pressure can return to pre-vaping levels just after a few months.
Tests on e-cigarettes confiscated from youngsters found they contained dangerous levels of lead, nickel and chromium. Some were almost 10 times above safe limits. Exposure to lead can impair brain development, while the other two metals can trigger blood clotting
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY AFTER YOU QUIT VAPING?
Vaping can have serious and sometimes fatal side effects on the body.
Dr Semiya Aziz, a GP and TV doctor practicing in North London, noted that there links between vaping with chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease and conditions such as asthma and popcorn lung — a condition which damages the smallest airways in the lungs.
While the body can recover from the effects of vaping, it can take weeks, sometimes months, she said. It depends on the intensity and the length of time spent vaping.
Within a few weeks of giving up e-cigs, the lungs can regenerate damaged tissue, decreasing the risk of conditions that cause breathing difficulties.
But, the rate of recovery heavily depends on the levels of exposure.
‘If the damage to the lungs is extensive, this may not be possible and there may be permanent damage resulting in long-term chronic effects,’ she added.
Heart health can also improve as blood vessels return to a normal rate and size, bringing the risk of an attack back to pre-vape levels.
Dr Aziz said: ‘As a consequence of vaping, the heart rate often becomes abnormal and there is dilation of the blood vessels which can increase the likelihood of a heart attack or sudden death in people with or without known heart disease.’
In addition to a healthier heart, blood circulation is likely to improve after just a few weeks, lowering the risk of fatal heart conditions.
Dry mouth and diminished taste buds — a side effect of vaping — will also return to normal after a few weeks, she says.
Dr Aziz added: ‘We also know that vaping can cause other organ damage.
‘In addition to your lungs, nicotine and other substances in vapes can affect brain development and mood and can lead to addiction.’
TOP TIPS TO QUIT VAPING
Quitting an addiction or habit can be a gruelling process for most, especially when the Government is expected to announce that the nation will go cold turkey.
But Dr Aziz has revealed her top five tips on how to quit vaping for good.
The NHS doctor suggests getting physically active, as she says exercising or playing sports can crush the craving.
Another way to curb the addiction is to develop a distraction technique.
Dr Aziz said: ‘Cravings often pass after one to two minutes. This can be by undertaking various chores, making use of your hands or listening to music. Some patients I know have used straws to help them quit.’
The journey to quitting is said to be much easier if you also surround yourself with family and friends who are supportive and understand the difficulties.
Many people develop a vaping habit to manage stress, but this can be replaced with a different and more healthy lifestyle choice.
Meditation, journaling and spending time outdoors are just some alternative outlets that the GP recommends.
And remember to celebrate milestones, no matter how little they may seem, Dr Aziz said.
She said: ‘You may want to track the number of vape-free days that have been achieved and reward yourself for this achievement.’
There can be many unwanted side effects during the first few weeks of quitting.
Symptoms can include headaches, chills, feeling irritable and erratic mood swings with episodes of anxiety.
Dr Aziz said: ‘Nicotine is an addictive substance and it usually takes 72 hours for nicotine to get out of the body’s system.’
Disposable vapes are set to be axed under new Government plans.
This is in a bid to prevent children from becoming addicted to the devices. Latest data suggests 11.6 per cent of 11 to 17-year-olds in the UK have already tried vaping.
Campaigners have long called for much stricter regulations on marketing to children and a tax on disposable vapes, which are most popular among teens.
NHS Digital data, based on the smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England survey for the year 2021, showed 30 per cent of children in Yorkshire and the Humber have used a vape
But concerns have mounted recently with ministers urged to ban predatory firms selling vapes in brightly-coloured packaging and kid-friendly favours like bubblegum.
The proposals — which follow in the footsteps of countries including France and New Zealand — could be unveiled as early as next week, reports suggest.
Last week, the French government vowed to push ahead with its plans to ban disposable e-cigarettes over claims they encourage smoking among young people.
Germany and Ireland have outlined their proposals to place restrictions on vapes, with the German government currently considering an outright ban on disposable e-cigarettes.
Separately, Australia has put in place measures to make vapes available only to those with prescriptions.
Meanwhile, New Zealand has also set out restrictions that ban vape shops from being within 300 metres of a school and which ensure all vapes must have removable batteries.
Colourful displays of the gadgets, sold for as little as £5, currently litter high streets across the UK.
Predatory manufacturers lure kids in with flavours such as bubblegum and cotton candy and some shops even sell the devices next to sweets.
Experts have previously demanded a total ban on disposable vapes such as Elf bars, popular with teenagers.
Everything you need to know about e-cigarettes
How much nicotine is in an e-cigarette?
There are many different brands of e-cigarettes, containing various different nicotine levels.
The legal amount of nicotine in an e-liquid capacity in the UK is 20mg/ml equating to between 600 and 800 puffs.
The Elf Bar 600, one of Britain’s most popular vapes, is advertised as coming in nicotine strengths of 0mg, 10mg and 20mg.
How many cigarettes are ‘in’ an e-cigarette?
The Elf Bar 600 contains the equivalent to 48 cigarettes, analysts say.
It delivers 600 puffs before it needs to be thrown away, meaning, in theory, every 12.5 puffs equate to one cigarette.
Experts say for many e-cigarettes, 100 puffs equate to ten normal cigarettes.
Elf Bars are a brand of e-cigarettes often sold in snazzy colours and with child-friendly names and flavours, like blue razz lemonade and green gummy bear
Is vaping better for your health than cigarettes?
Vaping products are considered to be better than cigarettes as users are exposed to fewer toxins and at lower levels, according to the NHS.
The health service adds that vaping instead of smoking cigarettes reduces your exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung disease and diseases of the heart and circulation, such as strokes and heart attacks.
Public Health England, which is now defunct, published an expert independent review in 2015 concluding that e-cigarettes are around 95 per cent less harmful than cigarettes.
However vaping is not risk-free, as while levels in tobacco-products are much higher, e-cigarettes still contain harmful toxins, according to a study by researchers from the Medical University of Silesia in Poland.
And Dr Onkar Mudhar, a London dentist who posts videos on TikTok, said Elf bars can cause gum inflammation, swelling and bleeding.
He said this is because nicotine dries out your mouth and reduces saliva, causing irritation from a build-up of bacteria and food that can’t get washed away.
Nearly 350 hospitalisations due to vaping were logged in England in 2022, which are thought to be mainly down to respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, lung inflammation and, in severe cases, respiratory failure.
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