Smoking, vaping, and nicotine pouches might look like three versions of the same habit. According to one doctor, the damage they do is far from identical.
Most people are well aware of the health problems that come with using nicotine and tobacco. But for those curious about how the different products affect the body, Dr. Zafar is now providing some answers.
When speaking to Metro, Dr Zafar said that while nicotine pouches, smoking and vaping are all bad for you, cigarettes are by far the worst “by a very large margin.”
Dr Zafar said there is “no safe level of cigarette smoking” and even minimal use can cause “disproportionate cardiovascular harm,” according to LADbible.
Vaping vs cigarettes
At the same time, vaping has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among young people, and it comes with its own health risks.
According to the NHS, vaping can be a way of reducing the harm caused by cigarettes for someone who is trying to quit. But as more research continues to emerge, it is becoming increasingly clear that vaping is not without health risks either.
The American Lung Association states: “while scientists are still studying the long-term effects, they know that vaping exposes users to nicotine and other harmful chemicals that can damage the lungs. Nicotine is highly addictive and can negatively affect attention, learning, memory, mood and self-control. These effects are especially concerning for people under age 25 because their brains are still developing.”
Accoding to Dr Zafar, “decades of evidence needed to calculate vaping’s precise lifetime risks.”
What about nicotine pouches?
When comparing the three, Dr Zafar said nicotine pouches “may be the least harmful,” but also stressed that they are still not good for you.
They can cause gum irritation, mouth ulcers and white lesions. And while they don’t contain tobacco, they still contain nicotine, which is highly addictive.
“Nicotine pouches should not be used by children, pregnant people or adults who do not already use nicotine,” Dr Zafar said. “I am particularly concerned about marketing which encourages users to start low… this needs to be urgently looked at.”
He also added that ‘snus’, which contains both nicotine and tobacco, is probably worse than vaping.
Need help quitting?
Quitting nicotine is hard, whether it’s cigarettes, vapes, or pouches, and you don’t have to do it alone. Free, confidential support is available:
- Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to be connected with a trained quit coach in your state.
- Visit Smokefree.gov for quit plans, tips, and tools, including live chat support.
- Teens and young adults trying to quit vaping can text DITCHVAPE to 88709 for free, judgment-free and anonymous support through Truth Initiative’s This is Quitting program.
- For broader substance use or addiction, the SAMHSA National Helpline is free, confidential, and open 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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