What does it mean to vape?

The tobacco industry has changed in many ways. Regular cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and now e-cigarettes have all hit the market and become the “next big thing” for smokers. To fully understand why vaping is not a safe alternative to regular tobacco, let’s take a look at what it actually means to vape.

Click on each icon in the image below to learn about the different parts of an e-cigarette.

Anatomy of Electronic Cigarettes
Cartridge
  • Holds e-liquid, or “vape juice”
  • Can come prefilled or refillable
Atomizer
  • A coil that heats up the e-liquid to create aerosol
Sensors
  • Some e-cigarettes include a power button that has to be pressed to activate the vape, while others turn on when the user inhales
  • All e-cigarettes require sensors to turn on
Battery
  • A rechargeable lithium battery
  • Heats the atomizer to 400 degrees in a matter of seconds
Charger
  • Most e-cigarettes are rechargeable and come with a charging cable or port

Now that you know the ins and outs of an e-cigarette, what happens when a person vapes? Hover over each image to find out! 

E-cigarettes

When the user activates, or turns on the e-cigarette, the e-liquid is heated up in seconds, creating an aerosol. The aerosol, also known as vapor, is a combination of particles that are released into the air, and the user’s lungs. This aerosol can also be inhaled by anyone who is around the person vaping (secondhand smoke).

The aerosol pathway

When the user inhales through the e-cigarette, the aerosol is quickly absorbed into their lungs, and then their bloodstream. Once the nicotine enters the blood, it stimulates adrenal glands to release the adrenaline hormone, epinephrine. Epinephrine increases your blood pressure, breathing and heart rate.

Effects on the brain

We already know that nicotine is highly addictive. It directly affects the brain by increasing levels of dopamine, which in turn reinforces feelings of pleasure, motivation and satisfaction. Because of the “reward” users feel when smoking, they are motivated to keep using nicotine again and again, until they are fully addicted.

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