As such, there are numerous benefits that have led to this popularity, along with many prospective downsides, fears, and rumors.
One such rumor is surrounding the idea of parasites, and whether or not you can contract them from vaping. So, this begs the question, is there any truth to this, and if so, what can be done to counteract it?
How Does Vaping Work?
Generally speaking, vapes and electronic cigarettes consist of an atomizer, a power source of battery, and a container for the flavored clear vaping fluid.
The battery powers the atomizer, which in turn acts as the heating element to gradually heat the liquid, turning it into a vapor, which can then be inhaled through the mouthpiece.
Many electronic cigarettes and vaping devices are reusable, with only the fluid needing to be replaced in the short term.
What Are The Benefits Of Vaping?
As you can imagine, the popularity of vaping stems from the benefits it holds to the user, and these range across numerous factors, from ease of use to personal health.
Less Harmful
Firstly, while vaping is not completely healthy, it is less harmful to your health than smoking cigarettes and joints.
While long term smoking can cause damage to the lungs and the other organs – not to mention potentially causing cancers and other illnesses – vaping does not offer the same risks, making it a safer choice for many.
No Cigarette/Marijuana Smoke
They are also free from potentially unpleasant odors that the user and their family might not be fond of.
More Nicotine Control
You can also control the amount of nicotine and marijuana that you consume through vaping, as variations can be purchased depending on your needs and personal taste.
Can You Get Parasites From Vaping?
Generally speaking, the act of vaping does not expose the individual to more risks of contracting a parasite – so those with this fear can somewhat rest easy on that front.
However, there are other potential problems that vaping can cause, including addiction, psychological dependency, and bacterial problems.
By and large, the rumors of parasites can be derived from issues of cleanliness, and the fact that vapes can be reused time and time again.
While this won’t be an issue in most cases, it can cause bacteria to build up – which could then pose further problems down the line.
What Problems Can Vaping Cause?
As we mentioned above, vaping can cause certain problems in some people, ranging from the mild and expected, to the more severe and surprising.
Addiction
Even though you are not physically ‘smoking’ something, the act of vaping still introduces nicotine or marijuana into your lungs and bloodstream – opening you up for various forms of addiction and chemical dependency that can impact you on a psychological level.
In terms of tobacco, vaping is usually introduced as a means of weaning the individual off traditional cigarettes – usually in combination with other non-smoking tools – but the individual is still exposed to nicotine, maintaining the addiction if not properly managed.
The same can be said for marijuana vaping, wherein the user can still receive the same level of marijuana.
Bacteria
Of course, one of the ‘benefits’ of cigarettes and joints, is that they are usually one use, and are thrown away once the person has smoked. This means that the risk of bacteria is low, and cleanliness can usually be maintained.
This changes with vaping, where the same mouthpiece is used again and again for a period of months (potentially).
This means that, depending on the cleanliness of the person (or persons) who use it, their vape pen cleaning regimen, and other environmental factors, bacteria could be allowed to build up and take root – both in the pen itself, and the lungs.
Just like cigarette smoke, vape is more likely to make existing harmful bacteria in the lungs even more dangerous – which is why those with existing conditions would do well to avoid them completely.
Side Effects
There are also numerous side effects associated with vaping, which, just like cigarette and marijuana smoking, can become a problem over time, and can cause further problems to existing conditions.
Side effects can include:
Dry mouth
Coughing
Dry skin
Itchiness
Insomnia
Nose bleeds
What Other Problems Can Vaping Cause?
As well as physical symptoms and potential problems like addiction, there are some other problems with vaping – and are present regardless of whether the user is vaping nicotine or marijuana.
The Expense
While vaping might be slightly more healthy – in the sense that you are not technically inhaling burning smoke from a cigarette or joint – they can be very costly, which can make them a poor choice for those with limited incomes.
While cigarettes are not especially cheap, especially not in the current climate, vaping products can rack up quite the bill over time, which leads many people to lean towards more traditional methods of consuming nicotine.
Flooded Market
The market is also saturated, which can make choosing the right product confusing and overwhelming for some.
You might have noticed that vape shops have appeared in almost every town, and this means that there are potentially millions of choices available when it comes to apparatus, liquid, and other accessories.
Final Thoughts
And there we have it, everything you need to know about vaping, and whether or not you can get parasites from partaking in the practice.
It’s true that vaping has become immensely popular throughout the world, with people opting for this method of delivery for both nicotine and marijuana alike.
However, no method is foolproof, and there can be downsides whichever way you choose.
So if you are concerned about the potential problems surrounding vaping, then why not research this further?
Hi, I’m Zack Finch and I work as a Budtender for a Health & Wellness center here, in sunny California. I have been using marijuana recreationally for around 6 years now, and have many a time enjoyed the benefit that weed has to offer.
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