Vaping has become a popular trend among cigarette smokers in the UAE who are looking to quit smoking. Despite the belief that vaping is less harmful than smoking and can help people quit, doctors warn that this is a myth. The UAE has strict anti-smoking laws in place to protect public health, including penalties for smoking in the presence of children and selling tobacco products to minors.
Some UAE residents, such as Anastasia Armali and Ryan Naik, have turned to vaping as a way to quit smoking traditional cigarettes. Both individuals have expressed their intentions to eventually quit vaping as well. However, doctors caution that vaping poses significant health risks, including lung damage, cancer development, and other health effects such as throat irritation and chronic bronchitis. Studies have shown that vaping may even make teenagers more likely to start smoking.
Dr. Raiza Hameed, a specialist in pulmonology, emphasizes that vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking and should not be used as a method to quit. Instead, she advises people to seek support from friends, family, and specialists for nicotine replacement therapy to help them quit smoking. Dr. Jamsheer Ambalath Kabeer, another specialist in pulmonology, raises concerns about vaping-associated pulmonary illness and the addictive nature of nicotine in vaping products.
Lauren Huang, a general manager for vaping brands in the Middle East, acknowledges that vaping is not risk-free and contains addictive nicotine. However, she emphasizes that vaping products are intended for adult smokers as smoking cessation tools. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before turning to vaping to support efforts to quit smoking. Overall, while vaping may seem like a safer alternative to smoking, it has its own set of risks and potential health consequences that individuals should be aware of before making the switch.
