Vaping has become an extremely popular trend, especially among young adults and teenagers. With fun flavors and sleek high-tech devices, it’s easy to see why vaping is so appealing. However, public health experts have raised concerns about the health effects and addictive potential of vaping. So how often is too often when it comes to vaping? Let’s take a closer look.
What is Vaping?
Vaping involves inhaling vapor produced by an electronic cigarette device. These devices heat up a liquid, often referred to as vape juice or e-liquid, turning it into an aerosol that the user inhales. Vape juice typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin, and flavorings.
The act of vaping provides an experience similar to smoking, but without burning tobacco. This allows the user to inhale nicotine and experience the sensory satisfaction associated with smoking, without inhaling the tar and carbon monoxide that comes from combustible cigarettes.
How Often Do People Vape?
Frequency of vaping varies widely among users. Some may take just a few puffs sporadically, while others vape very heavily throughout the day. Surveys have attempted to quantify vaping habits:
- In a 2015 survey, 35% of vapers reported vaping 1-5 times per day, while 22% said they vaped 6-15 times per day.
- A 2016 study found 71% of vapers vaped daily, while 21% vaped weekly and 8% vaped monthly.
- A 2019 survey of 12th grade students found 27% reported vaping nicotine in the past 30 days. Of these, 27% vaped on less than 5 days and 29% vaped on 20 or more days.
So while some vapers use their devices sparingly, many engage in daily vaping routines, with some reaching for their vape very frequently throughout the day.
Is Frequent Vaping Harmful?
While vaping is often perceived as safer than smoking, frequent vaping may not be completely harmless. Here are some potential concerns with heavy vaping:
- Nicotine addiction – Frequently vaping nicotine-containing liquids can lead to dependence and addiction. Nicotine stimulates reward pathways in the brain and can reinforce vaping behaviors.
- Unknown long-term effects – Vaping technology is still new. The long-term health effects of frequent exposure to vaping aerosol are still unknown.
- Respiratory issues – Studies link vaping to increased coughing, wheezing, and asthma exacerbations. Heavy use could increase risk.
- Cardiovascular effects – Nicotine can raise blood pressure and heart rate. Vaping has been associated with increased odds of heart attack.
- Cytotoxicity – Lab studies found vaping aerosol exposure can damage lung cells at high doses. The implications of long-term exposure are unclear.
For nonsmokers or those who vape infrequently, picking up much heavier vaping habits could increase health risks. However, for smokers, switching completely to vaping would likely confer some health benefits, as long as they avoid compensatory smoking.
How Much is Too Much Vaping?
There are no definitive guidelines on vaping frequency. However, here are some tips for keeping vaping within moderate levels:
- Avoid vaping first thing in the morning or reaching for your vape out of habit, rather than intentionally.
- Measure your vape juice consumption. Around 5-10mL per day may be moderate, while 30mL or more per day is very heavy use.
- Pay attention to chain vaping. Try to space vaping sessions out rather than puffing continuously.
- Consider switching to lower nicotine vape juice over time to reduce dependence.
- Take occasional breaks from vaping to check that you are in control of your usage.
Setting limits on when and where you vape can also be helpful. Vaping only during certain situations, like when socializing or taking short vape breaks, can prevent excessive use.
Signs You May Be Vaping Too Much
Here are some signs that vaping may be getting out of hand:
- You feel strong urges to vape throughout the day.
- You vape to the point of feeling nauseous or lightheaded.
- Vaping is causing issues in your relationships or finances.
- You vape in inappropriate or risky situations (like while driving).
- You have failed attempts to cut back on vaping.
- You feel anxious, irritable, or depressed when you try to stop vaping.
Experiencing some of these could be a sign of nicotine dependence. Consulting a doctor or cessation program may be beneficial if quitting unaided proves difficult.
The Bottom Line
There is no universally agreed upon threshold for vaping too frequently. Some key takeaways on vaping frequency include:
- Vaping habits span a wide spectrum, from occasional to chain vaping.
- Frequent, heavy vaping could increase health risks, especially in nonsmokers.
- Moderate vaping limits the chance of addiction while still allowing smoking cessation benefits.
- Pay attention to your own usage and its effects to determine what frequency works for you.
Setting reasonable boundaries around your vaping can help you balance enjoyment against potential health impacts. Speak to your doctor if you need help reducing excessive vaping habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times a day is normal to vape?
There is no standardized “normal” frequency of vaping. Vaping habits range greatly among users. Vaping just a few times per day may be considered light to moderate use for some, while others vape hundreds of times per day.
Is vaping every 5 minutes too much?
Vaping every 5 minutes, or 12 times per hour, would generally be considered frequent, heavy usage. This level of vaping likely increases health risks and the chance of addiction. It may signal loss of control over vaping habits.
What are the signs of vaping too much?
Signs of vaping too frequently include strong urges to vape, vaping so much you feel sick, issues caused by vaping, vaping compulsively, failed attempts to cut back, and withdrawal symptoms when stopping. Pay attention to these cues.
How do I vape less?
Tips to reduce vaping include avoiding vaping out of habit, measuring and limiting juice consumption, spacing out vaping sessions, lowering nicotine levels, taking vape-free breaks, and setting rules around when you will and won’t vape.
How can I cut down on vaping?
Ways to cut down on vaping include tracking usage to identify excess, learning your triggers, setting a taper schedule to gradually reduce, replacing vaping with oral substitutes, avoiding other users, keeping your device out of reach, and getting support if struggling to quit.
Comparisons of Vaping Frequency by Age Group
| Age Group | Vapes Every Day | Vapes Weekly | Vapes Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 years old | 22% | 12% | 8% |
| 25-34 years old | 29% | 9% | 5% |
| 35-44 years old | 19% | 6% | 3% |
| 45-55 years old | 11% | 4% | 2% |
| Over 55 years old | 6% | 2% | 1% |
This table displays data from a fictional survey comparing daily, weekly, and monthly vaping rates across different age groups. It shows vaping on a daily basis is most common among 25-34 year olds, followed by the 18-24 age group. Vaping frequencies decline in the older age groups. While this data is invented, it illustrates realistic demographic patterns observed in studies of vaping habits.
Conclusion
Vaping frequency exists on a broad spectrum from occasional to chain use throughout the day. While controlled, moderate vaping is likely low risk, frequent heavy vaping may increase the chance of addiction and negative health effects. Monitoring your own habits and urging caution in nonsmoking youth are important public health priorities. Open conversations around vaping use can help identify truly problematic levels of e-cigarette consumption versus responsible enjoyment.