More and more people in the UK and across the globe are making the switch to vaping, leaving behind cigarettes in hopes of quitting for good. Vaping and E-Cigarettes have become one of the most common alternatives to smoking for a variety of reasons.
For one, they offer a similar experience to smoking, perfect for those stuck in the habit. It also provides a less harmful way of getting nicotine to fight nicotine cravings.
Of course, there are other alternatives like traditional NRTs (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) which include nicotine gum, patches and more, however, these don't often satisfy the needs of those who have adopted the habit of smoking. But there are still some who don't quite understand the benefits of switching to vaping, and misinformation is one of the reasons. Let's break down the benefits of vaping, the potential side effects and how you can switch.
What happens when you quit smoking
We posted an article previously on what happens when you quit smoking, but generally there are a wide variety of things that occur when you quit smoking. Many note that not only does quitting smoking benefit your health, but also boosts your mental health and wellbeing. Another thing worth noting is that you will also notice just how much you save when you quit smoking. Especially now when every pound helps, smoking is a very expensive, bad habit to keep up. Even when making the switch to vaping, the savings are dramatic.
The NHS have created a handy tool that you can use to find out just how much you could be saving if you quit smoking.
The benefits of vaping and how it can help with quitting
Vaping is often touted as a great smoking cessation tool and for good reason. As mentioned before, it offers a way for smokers to get a nicotine hit to fight cigarette cravings and provides a similar experience to smoking. One of the most notable benefits however is the reduction in harm.
It is widely accepted that vaping offers some harm, primarily for those who have never smoked, but is 95% less harmful than smoking. Unfortunately, there are still a number of people who incorrectly believe vaping is as harmful or even more so than that smoking, mostly due to misinformation being spread often by the media.
Advice given in the UK from Public Health England has always been in support of smokers switching to vaping, as a means of quitting smoking, with 50,000 smokers using E-Cigarettes to help quit each year. A recent study from Public Health England noted that vaping was performing better than traditional NRTs for helping stop smoking.
Some of the benefits of vaping include helping you cut back on expenses. Smoking is a very expensive problem to have, especially with the price of cigarettes increasing over time. Nowadays it can cost around £400 a month to smoke (that's almost £5000 a year), and that's only based on average numbers.
Heavy smokers will likely see much more money leaving their pockets each month. On the other hand, minus the initial cost for a vape device, vaping is around 4x less expensive with a heavy smoker likely to spend £80-90 a month. And depending on what you vape the cost can be even less!
Primarily, vaping offers smokers a much less harmful method of taking nicotine. Combined with pleasant flavours helps to make the switch to vaping easier and makes cigarettes less attractive. Vaping also creates the ability to lower your nicotine intake by using lower strength E-Liquids or, if you use shortfills, to add your own nicotine to manage your levels even greater. With this, it is possible eventually to even quit vaping when you're ready.
Side effects of switching to vaping
It's common when first switching to have a few of the very common side effects which are usually mild and easy to correct.
Some may cough the first time. This is common because vaping can feel different to smoking; the vapour itself feels different from when you inhale smoke. There's also the potential you need to change up the way you vape (you could be inhaling too sharply), or your nicotine strength/type. If you're still coughing after a few days then try vaping with a slow, long inhale or switch to Nic Salts that are gentler on the throat.
There's also a possibility you may vape too much. As a smoker, especially a heavy smoker, you may be inclined to vape more than you think because the nicotine hit might take longer to be felt. This could leave you feeling dizzy, slightly nauseous or with a slight headache. If this happens stop vaping and wait for it to pass, and if it happens regularly then you could possibly be using a nicotine strength that is too high. Lower your strength and if it continues to occur seek advice from your GP or a medical health expert.
How you can switch to vaping
Preparation, motivation and practice are key. Make sure you've planned out what you want to vape with and purchased everything you need. If you've picked up a tank kit which requires maintenance then you'll need spare coils, batteries and a cleaning kit. Disposable vapes are a great way for those making the switch to try vaping without investing too much. These devices are easy to use and require no maintenance, just pop from their packaging and puff away.
Remind yourself of the reasons why you are quitting smoking whenever you feel the cravings hit, and make sure to keep your vape on hand. It may take some getting used to it but making sure you have your E-Cigarette on hand at all times will help you combat the cravings. If you're finding the vape isn't satisfying your cravings, then you may need to increase your strength.
Generally, a heavy smoker would benefit the most from 18-20mg strength E-Liquids, and in particular Nicotine Salts. This type of E-Liquid helps smokers because it's smoother on your throat even at high strengths and delivers nicotine more effectively. 
Pod Salt's Nicotine Salt vape products are designed with smokers in mind, with something to help you at every step of your quitting journey. From disposable devices to Nicotine Salt E-Liquids in a variety of flavours ensures that there is something for everyone.
And we know that not everyone can start vaping and completely cut out cigarettes. If you start out with dual use (using E-Cigarettes and cigarettes), then you are at least making a start to your quitting journey. By decreasing the number of cigarettes you use while vaping, you'll one day notice that you no longer reach for a cigarette, and instead pull out your vape instead. It's not a race, make sure to do what works for you as that's the only way you'll be able to stick to it.
