Showing all posts tagged vaping

In Health and Exercise

Smoking Cessation Success Due to Vaping

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

cessation

Since the Go Smoke Free legislation went live in the UK back in 2007 there has been a keener public awareness of the dangers of smoking, however people still continue to smoke. Why is this? While smoking numbers have dropped it would appear that vaping has had a lot to do with cessation levels, and hopefully will in the future as vaping offers a better way for smokers to give up.

I gave up smoking over twelve years ago, long before vaping really became a thing. It was hard! It was so blooming hard but I did it. I had some great motivations to quit and by that point, I think I was ready, however, for some giving up smoking is incredibly difficult, especially going cold turkey.

When it comes to giving up smoking you aren’t simply making a decision to quit. First of all, there’s the nicotine content in tobacco cigarettes. Nicotine is addictive, no-one is denying that. Believe it or not, you may also be addicted to the other chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes. Strictly speaking, these may not be known for having addictive properties however your body does get used to having them around. On top of this is the fact that you would be giving up another habit; a hand to mouth habit/action, a part of your day, a routine and of course the social aspect of smoking (although this has lessened since public smoking bans came into place).

It would seem for some that giving up smoking is simply too difficult, especially going cold turkey and particularly if more traditional methods for supporting the quitting of smoking ,such as gum and patches haven’t worked for you. What’s the answer? Vaping is.

E Cigarettes as Cessation Devices

Many official bodies advocate for the use of e cigarettes as a safer and healthier alternative to smoking. WHO (the World Health Organisation) have classified a number of the chemicals found within tobacco cigarettes as being toxic and potentially cancer causing. No such classification exists for e liquids, which are heated to produce a vapour as opposed to tobacco that is burned. When moving over to vaping you get to maintain an enjoyable, relaxing hobby, the hand/mouth action isn’t lost, there is a social element to vaping and you still have access to nicotine. As a cessation device the e cigarette has been highly effective and partially responsible for the drop in adult smoking numbers in the UK, as well as further afield. Vaping even caters for those who don’t want to miss out on the tobacco taste with quality e liquids such as these from Black Note.

What About Nicotine?

We know that nicotine is addictive, however there is no evidence that it is harmful to health beyond that (unless you drink it, please don’t drink it!). The benefit of moving over to vaping from smoking is that with vaping you may choose to use e liquids with varying different nicotine strengths within them. That means that you may maintain the level you are used to with smoking and gradually reduce this, all the way down to zero nicotine. There are many zero nicotine e liquids so that it is possible, and many do choose to vape nicotine free e cigarettes, enjoying the hobby without any chemical nasties and without nicotine.

Who Supports Vaping as a Cessation Method?

Vaping has not yet officially been given the stamp of approval from the government in terms of putting up billboards that say “Quit today, use an e cigarette” or having officially adopted e cigarettes as NHS cessation devices however, there is a lot of support for this. Numerous health bodies, cancer charities (including UK Cancer Research), doctors and other health professionals have called for the use of e cigarettes to help people quit, citing the fact that you are immediately choosing a cleaner and healthier hobby over a well-known dangerous one, as well as them understanding that when it comes to giving up smoking, you are fighting a physical habit, as well as a chemical one.

Public Health England, the government body responsible for the implementation of the 2007 smoking ban legislation which saw smoking banned in pubs, cafes, on public transport and more are keen advocates of vaping, listing e cigarettes as a valid and useful cessation aid on their Stoptober campaign materials (Stoptober is the annual NHS public health campaign aimed at helping people quit smoking). Clearly many support the use of e cigarettes as a cessation method.

The Future

The number of people choosing to smoke is falling and the number of people switching over to vaping is rising. This can only be a good thing. I’d love to see a wider acceptance for vaping, particularly from the NHS (officially) as I truly believe it is a great tool in helping people quit smoking and as such should be one the government are supporting more widely. Vaping isn’t as complicated as many expect it to be and there is some great guidance for helping people get started and for vaping troubleshooting. It’s definitely worth finding out more about.

In General, Guest Posts

Why You Need to Read the Expiration Date on E-Liquids

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

I gave up smoking 12 years ago and have never looked back. It wasn’t easy though! Had vaping been around back then I expect I’d have quit much sooner, and found it much easier. While I don’t vape myself I’ve seen the benefits of it to many ex-smoker that I know and on that basis am something of a fan. This guest post helps those vaping to make sure they know why the expiration date on their e-liquids are important so is a good read and one to bookmark for future reference.

A common myth associated with the expiry date of food items is that the date featured is often inaccurate. Thereby, it is normal for you to wonder if your vape e-liquids could actually expire or not. However, there is no such research that completely testifies that an e-liquid would expire or not in the prescribed time. The ambiguity thus makes it increasingly important for you to know about the different factors affecting the lifespan of an e-liquid to make an informed decision.

Empower Yourself

The expiry date of e-liquids are rough estimations. However, you need to adhere to them at all costs. This means, even if you think an e-liquid is safe for consumption, do not risk consuming it after the expiry date. Similarly, since the research pertaining to vape and e-liquids are gradually surfacing, it is a good idea to keep yourself up to date with recent happenings. Make it a point to read vaping blogs regularly to acquire knowledge about the different aspects of vaping. One blog worth staying up to date with is the VapersWAREHOUSE vaping blog which regularly updates readers with blog posts each month so vapours can stay up to date with new laws, trends and tips with vaping.

Today, many individuals are not aware of the dos and don’ts pertaining to vaping and e-liquids, which makes it difficult to choose between the good, bad, and ugly. Reading blogs and acquiring knowledge is the first step to making a difference.

While it is extremely unlikely for an expired e-liquids to cause you any major physical issues, the industry has not been explored adequately, adding to the ambiguity. The best way to go about vaping e-liquids is to consume the juice within a time span of 1-2 years to avoid consuming anything that has been spoilt. The last thing you’d want is to consume something that tastes foul or bad.

Shelf Life of E-Liquids

Generally, the expiry date prescribed on an e-liquid is an approximate estimation. At present, there is no regulatory body to manage the expiry date of a juice bottle. However, it also does not imply that the expiry date listed is incorrect.

On an average, an e-liquid flavour is likely to last anytime between one or two years. This estimation is based on the approximate shelf life of PG, nicotine and VG. However, there are also other ingredients that are used to manufacture an e-liquid.

The type of flavour also has an impact on the shelf life. This essentially means that if you have an e-liquid with 2-actetylpyrazine, the approximate shelf life of the product is five years. On the other hand, if a juice is made using vanillin, then the shelf life will be approximately two years. Thereby, the shelf life may vary depending on the primary ingredient, but on an average, an e-liquid will last for two years.

How To Judge If An E-Liquid Has Expired?

There is no such way definite formula or parameter to judge if an e-liquid has expired. However, the first thing that has an impact on the lifespan of an e-liquid is the storage condition of the product. So, if an e-liquid is stored in an unfavourable condition such as exposure to sunlight, chances are that it will expire sooner than the estimated time. Furthermore, even if you have placed your e-liquid in appropriate storage conditions, it is always a good idea to check it thoroughly before consuming it.

It is a normal phenomenon that the heavier sediments tend to settle at the bottom of fluids. Thus, shaking the bottle vigorously can help. However, if the compounds do not mix, there is a high probability that the e-liquid has gone stale. It needs to be noted that some e-liquids do not completely mix even if they are new. So, this situation only implies to those e-liquids that have experienced a new separation.

Thus, if the expiry of an e-juice is near, it is a good idea to inspect it before consumption. Your judgement can be based on the smell, oxidation, sediments, and texture of the e-liquid. If your intuition says that the juice has gone bad, do not risk using it. The last thing you’d want is to compromise your health for a small bottle of e-liquid.

Important Takeaways

  • There is no defined way to establish the expiry date of a vape juice. However, if you correctly store the e-liquid, it can last for almost 1-2 years. The lifespan of an e-liquid depends on VG, PG and nicotine.
  • Since an e-liquid is made using a blend of different juices, there is a high probability that it can spoil sooner than the expiry date.
  • If an e-liquid is kept static for some time, the sediment starts to settle. This way, the chances of your e-juice going bad increases.
  • Similar to other food items, if your e-liquid smells sour or changes its texture, it is an indicator that your juice has expired.

 

 

 

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