Healthy mind, body & soul—happy life.
At Chaminade University, we care for the whole person. That’s why we offer support and resources to help you build a healthier lifestyle.
It’s important to understand the facts about smoking, vaping, nicotine and tobacco use and the effects it has on your body and mind. If you’re reading this, you’ve already taken an important step—thinking about kicking your dependence on nicotine.
If you’re ready to make take the next step to a healthier lifestyle, we can help!
Contact us at (808) 739-4685 or [email protected].
Benefits of quitting tobacco: did you know…
20 Minutes
after quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
12 Hours
after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
2 Weeks to 3 Months
after quitting, circulation improves and your lung function increases.
1-2 Years
after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease and risk of heart attack drops dramatically.
5-15 Years
after quitting, your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box is cut in half, and stroke risk decreases.
10 Years
after quitting, your risk of lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking (after 10 to 15 years). Your risk of cancer of the bladder, esophagus, and kidney decreases.
Smoking and COVID (smokefree.gov)
You may be worried about a connection between COVID and smoking. Scientists are still learning about the disease, but we know that:
- Being a current smoker increases your risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
- Smoking weakens the immune system, which makes it harder for your body to fight disease.
- Continued smoking gives a person a greater risk for respiratory infections like pneumonia, colds or flu.
- COVID-19 impacts many of the same organs of the body as smoking. For those with heart or lung disease caused by smoking, there is an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Vaping & E-Cigarettes
E-cigarettes are known by many different names, including e-cigs, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), alternative nicotine delivery systems (ANDS), e-hookahs, mods, vape pens, vaporizers, vapes and tank systems. E-cigarettes heat a liquid–called e-liquid or e-juice–to turn it into an aerosol (sometimes called a “vapor”). According to the American Cancer Society, the aerosol from an e-cigarette can contain nicotine and other substances that are addictive and can cause lung disease, heart disease, and cancer.
Health Risks Linked to E-Cigarette Use
Lung Cancer & Issues
Vape oils consist of a host of chemicals and metals that may be harmful to your lungs including: nickel, tin, lead, flavorings like diacetyl and other ultra-fine particles.
Brain Damage
Nicotine negatively affects how synapses connections between brain cells are formed. Many devices also produce vapor containing lead, which can cause brain damage.
Mouth/Gum Disease
Nicotine can reduce blood flow and nutrition to your gums, which need those nutrients to stay healthy.
Heart Issues
Nicotine raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, resulting in increased heart rate and greater risk of a heart attack. The potential for coronary artery disease and blood circulation problems are also increased.
Behavior Risks
Some evidence suggests that e-cigarette is a gateway to other dangerous substances.
Addiction
Until about age 25, the brain is still growing. Because addiction is a form of learning, adolescents may become addicted more easily than adults. The nicotine can also prime the adolescent brain for addiction to other drugs such as cocaine.
If you’re ready to make take the next step to a healthier lifestyle, we can help!
Contact us at (808) 739-4685 or [email protected].
Additional Resources
E-cigarettes and other types of ‘vaping’ devices are still fairly new, and more research is needed over a longer period of time to know the true long-term health effects. Below are more resources.
- This Is Quitting: free and anonymous text messaging program from Truth Initiative designed to help young people quit vaping
- Become An Ex: text support—delivers tailored text messages that provides quitting advice, information about nicotine replacement therapy and more
- Know The Risks (Surgeon General website)
- American Cancer Society
- Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Nobutts.org: Vaping Fact Sheet
- Nobutts.org: Secondhand Vaping Risks
- Nobutts.org: 5 Tips to Help You Quit