Vaping wouldn’t be what it is without the use of nicotine. As the most important aspect of smoking cessation, nicotine is a topic which is often discussed but rarely understood fully.
With vaping debate as hot as it’s ever been, there’s plenty to talk about the substance when it comes to the role that it plays in smoking cessation. Whilst some people believe nicotine to be dangerous, others see it as a key to getting less people to smoke. So, what is nicotine, what effect does it have on the human body, and what role does it play in vaping?
What is nicotine?
Nicotine is a naturally occurring chemical which can be found in a variety of different plants, not least the tobacco plant. This naturally occurring chemical can even be found in vegetables such as potatoes and tomatoes due to their coming from the nightshade family of plants. Nicotine has a potent effect on the human body, both psychologically and physically, meaning that it must be treated with caution. Nicotine is used not only vape devices and tobacco, but has several other applications, especially in medication and even in insecticide due to its poisonous qualities in higher dosages.
How is nicotine used in vape devices?
Nicotine is used in vape devices in a similar way to how it’s used in tobacco. This substance is fused with ammonium in a process known as freebasing. In this it is freed up from its original molecules to give the user a more potent hit of nicotine, much like the feeling you get from smoking tobacco.
The nicotine concentrate is added to e juices through being melded into the propylene glycol which makes part of the e juice. Propylene glycol is a natural compound which carries the flavour and nicotine in e juices, leaving the thick density of the vape clouds exhaled to be created by the second compound, vegetable glycerine. You can find differing ratios of the two compounds in your local vape shop supply, usually marked as a PG/VG ratio.
What effect does nicotine have on the body?
Nicotine is addictive due to it triggering the release of endorphins into the bloodstream. The more you take of it, the higher a tolerance you will start to gain to it, meaning you will have to take more. Nicotine is ingested by a range of animals, humans being the only ones to have processed into an inhalant.
Nicotine is unique in that it is both a depressant and a stimulant. In small quantities, such as that found in tobacco and vaping products, it can bring increased alertness and focus, whilst in higher quantities it is poisonous, lowering the heart rate.
Potential dangers of nicotine in vape juice
Vaping is known to be far safer than smoking, 98 percent safer to be precise. Being the one ingredient, which is shared between tobacco and vaping, nicotine has often been criticised due to the potential negative effects on the human body which it can induce.
Vasoconstriction
Vasoconstriction sounds worrying; anything with the word constriction in the name can’t be good, right? Vasoconstriction refers to an effect of nicotine increasing blood pressure temporarily. Vasoconstriction is the tightening of blood vessels, meaning that whilst you smoke or vape, your blood flow will be slightly restricted, meaning that less oxygen gets to places such as the gums. This can mean that you don’t gain enough oxygen into your body, and whilst vaping can lead to a range of problems regarding gum disease and high blood pressure. Of course, it is very rare that the tightening of blood vessels will affect you on a day to day basis but rather is a problem for those already dealing with high blood pressure or are pregnant.
Risk of addiction
Another problem with nicotine in your vape device is how addicting nicotine can be. There are constant, but unfounded, worries that underage vaping will lead to smoking due to addiction intensifying. Most vapers are those who used to be addicted to tobacco. Nicotine addiction can be managed and is the very reason why vaping was invented in the first place.
Taking in too much nicotine can cause nausea and headaches in people and is also leading cause of dehydration in vapers.
How much nicotine should you have in your vape juice?
When it comes down to it, each person must regulate and assess how much nicotine they need. With vape juices often coming highly concentrated, it is very important that you find the right amount for your devices.
The highest amount of nicotine you can get in pre-filled vape juices is 20 mg per 5 ml. The lowest is 3 mg or even 0 mg. If you smoked under 5 a day, you should be vaping with 3 or 6 mg, 10 a day should take you to 10 or 12 whilst heavy smokers should be using 16 to 20 mg of nicotine to satisfy their cravings.
