Doctor shares timeline of what happens to your body if you stop vaping
Vaping has become as quintessentially British as drinking tea and queuing - with millions hooked on fruit flavoured nicotine.
In the UK alone, it is thought that a staggering 4.5 million adults use e-cigarettes daily or occasionally, whilst vaping amongst under 18s has been described as an 'epidemic' by health experts. Originally designed to help smokers ditch standard cigarettes, vapes have now become popular in their own right, with many using the devices despite not having previously smoked.
Just like normal cigarettes, vapes are highly addictive and can be incredibly hard to quit. But here's what happens if you put down your blueberry Lost Mary for good.
Dr Alka Patel has 25 years of medical practice as a GP and is also known as the Health Hackitvation Doctor. Speaking exclusively with the Mirror, the expert breaks down the changes to our body after giving up vaping. So, let's say you hit your Elf bar the second you wake up, but by 9am you decide it's time to stop. Your body will start to experience changes in just half an hour:
By 9.30am: Your heart rate has slowed down.
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By 12.00pm : You start to notice some nicotine withdrawal effects. This might leave you feeling on edge and irritable. It's normal to also experience abdominal cramps and have a sore throat.
By 11pm : You may have difficulty falling asleep tonight.
3 days later: The withdrawal effects may have worsened, presenting themselves as headaches or sweating. Keep going!
One month later: That irritated cough will have disappeared. You sore throat will have settled and your breathing will be improving.
3 months later: Your circulation improves and your blood vessels are more open. Wooo!
9 months later: Your ability to fight infection improves.
1 year later : Congrats, your risk of having a heart attack is reduced by 50 per cent as your blood vessels return to a normal size.
5 years later: Your risk of stroke decreases.
10 years later: The DNA damage caused by vaping has improved.
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The NHS says switching from cigarettes to vapes can 'significantly reduce' your exposure to toxins that can cause a plethora of health issues including cancer, lung disease, and heart attack. However, that doesn't mean they're completely risk free.
Experts have warned the devices that increase blood pressure and heart rate, and could lead to reduced lung function over time. Vaping is also linked to skin problems such as dehydration and irritation as well as wrinkles around the mouth - but more research is needed to investigate the long-term effects. If you need support to quite smoking or vaping, check out these resources.
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