Why does vaping with RELX make my throat feel harsh and make me want to cough?

Try not to use e-cigarettes if possible. E-cigarettes can also affect your health. Everyone knows that smoking is harmful, but some people have strong nicotine dependence and simply cannot quit, which is why e-cigarettes emerged as an alternative to traditional cigarettes.

At present, vaping products on the market generally fall into two categories: one is heated tobacco products, which heat processed tobacco even though it is not lit, but the smell is still strong; the other is simulated vaping products, where the pod is processed through specific technology to produce vapor and create a smoking-like sensation.

But are e-cigarettes really as “harmless” as some people think? Not at all. E-cigarettes are not truly harmless. That claim is just self-deception. Strictly speaking, e-cigarettes only reduce some of the harmful substances found in traditional cigarettes; they are not completely harmless.

E-cigarettes do indeed contain less tar than traditional cigarettes, but nicotine is still present (although there are also nicotine-free e-liquids, they are not very popular). Nicotine has been discussed for many years and is the main culprit behind nicotine dependence.

At the same time, there is evidence linking it to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, digestive system disorders, neurological disorders, and even to the development and progression of cancer.

Based on this point alone, manufacturers that advertise e-cigarettes as “harmless” should be fined, because that is false advertising. That’s not even mentioning those that claim their products can clean the lungs or enhance virility.

The nicotine content in e-liquid or pods on the market varies greatly, and many products contain more nicotine than traditional cigarettes. It should be understood that the nicotine in a single cigarette (around 1 mg) can kill a white mouse, and for a 30 kg child, 24 mg of nicotine can pose a fatal poisoning risk.

Although smoking or vaping happens puff by puff, continuous use still causes harm. And for long-term smokers, if they use e-cigarettes with excessive nicotine content, not only may it fail to reduce nicotine dependence, it may actually worsen it. In addition, flavored e-liquids may contain all kinds of chemical additives and flavoring agents, and no one can be completely sure what has been added. These additives and flavorings may pose health risks, and some harmful gases such as formaldehyde and acrolein have even been detected.

So Why Have E-Cigarettes Become Popular So Quickly?

Hou Hongwei, deputy director of the National Tobacco Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, pointed out that in the absence of effective regulation, false claims by e-cigarette merchants such as “harmless” and “helps you quit smoking” have precisely targeted consumer pain points. Reporters randomly opened a product page for a certain vaping brand on an e-commerce platform and found that, in addition to attractive flavors and colorful designs, the merchants emphasized the “health” angle of e-cigarettes: slogans such as “Start your conversation with nature through fresh breath” and “Reduce the burden on your body without disturbing those around you,” paired with images of vapers in close contact with non-smokers or chatting happily and casually, easily create the false impression that e-cigarettes do not produce secondhand emissions.

Can E-Cigarettes Help You Quit Smoking?

There is not enough evidence to support the claim that e-cigarette products can help people quit smoking.

For tobacco users who want to quit smoking, there are other proven, safer, and approved products available, such as nicotine replacement therapy (including patches and gum), as well as quitlines, text-message programs, and specialized tobacco dependence treatment.