Nicotine in cigarettes vs e-cigs: how vaping differs from smoking

The purpose of vaping is relatively simple: to offer smokers a less harmful alternative to traditional tobacco products. With different strengths of nicotine to choose from, vaping products allow ex-smokers to gradually reduce nicotine intake over time, thereby reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms and ultimately helping them to stop smoking.

The dangers of nicotine

Nicotine is so addictive that immediate withdrawal from the substance can cause adverse symptoms, reactions and emotional responses. These include:

-Unsuitable cravings

-Mood swings and irritability

-Insomnia and fatigue

-Restlessness and trouble concentrating

-Increased appetite

-Headaches and dizziness

-Anxiety and depression

Since these symptoms peak during the first weeks and months of quitting smoking, it should come as no surprise that the “cold turkey” method of quitting is not the most effective way to switch.

Nicotine strength

When it comes to switching to a less harmful alternative to smoking, nicotine strength makes all the difference.

Though it may be tempting to choose a nicotine strength that’s based on that of a cigarette, it’s not quite that simple. For a start, e-cig liquids and vape juices are free from tobacco and many of the other chemicals that exist solely to boost the effects of nicotine.

Not all e-cig liquids are made the same and a 50:50 e-liquid has a much different throat hit to a similar strength Nic Salt. Nicotine salts are formulated to replicate the experience of smoking traditional tobacco products and thereby offer a stronger and more familiar nicotine hit than freebase nicotine.

Choosing the best e-cig juice and the right nicotine strength ultimately depends on the number of cigarettes you smoke, your smoking style, your body mass and your lung capacity. As a general rule of thumb:

18-20mg Nicotine

18-20mg is the highest strength of nicotine available in the UK. This strength of e-cig juice with nicotine is best suited to heavy smokers who consume one packet of cigarettes or more each day.

E-cig liquids of 18-20mg of nicotine should be used with refillable pens and refillable pod-style devices. These types of devices tend to have a low wattage and a higher ohm coil that produces discreet vapor with maximum flavour for a mouth-to-lung vaping method that most closely resembles that of smoking.