Why I Quit Smoking Cigarettes

It is my hope that other younger folks give up the nicotine vapes and cigarettes too.

A Message to the Younger Generation: My Personal Struggle with Quitting Vaping Nicotine

6 APRIL 2023

Introduction

Vaping, especially flavored nicotine, has become popular among younger people. However, quitting can be challenging. As someone who has experienced the negative consequences of vaping, I want to share my story with the younger generation, emphasizing that even those with a history of regular exercise and athletic achievements can face health issues due to vaping.

“Im gonna go have a smoke right now. You want a smoke? You don’t smoke, do ya, right? What are ya one of those fitness freaks huh? Go fuck yourself.”

- Captain Ellerby, The Departed

The Start: Cigarettes in Japan

In 2018, while living in Japan, I began smoking cigarettes daily. My cigarette smoking habit lasted two years, and my favorite brand was Lucky Strike Red, which until living in Japan, I had only ever seen in the TV show, Mad Men.

I actually started smoking cigarettes when I first visited Italy in the summer of 2017. Look how cool I look.

Sometime after I had a nightmare wherein I could see the inside of my lungs, which in the dream were black and charred, I decided to start vaping instead.

The Transition: Vaping and Its Inconsistencies

When I first started using nicotine vapes, I noticed a significant improvement in my breathing, particularly in my upper lungs. This anecdotal evidence supported the idea that vaping was not as unhealthy for someone as cigarette smoking. I began with Hyde Mango and later shifted to Honey Dew Melon, also from the Hyde brand. However, I discovered that vape flavors and even identical products were inconsistent, with the same flavor tasting different depending on the size of the vape.

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Smoking a cigarette is always cooler in Europe.

The Wake-Up Call: A Health Scare

Before Thanksgiving 2022, I discovered a swollen lymph node on my left side caused by an infection due to vaping nicotine. I found that constant hydration and large amounts of vitamins, particularly zinc and vitamin C, were the only things that helped to alleviate the symptoms. Realizing that vaping nicotine worsened my infection, I decided to quit out of fear for my life.

The Road to Recovery: Sauna Sessions and Exercise

To help speed up detoxification, I participated in regular sauna sessions and started to exercise again regularly, as I had done for most of my life. Frequent exercise also proved invaluable in managing my nicotine cravings and maintaining overall well-being.

A Message to the Younger Generation

I would be lying if I said I have completely quit nicotine. I am currently experimenting with tobacco-free nicotine to quit chewing tobacco and nicotine once and for all. That being said, I cannot say that I will never smoke a cigarette again, but I can say that my days of being a regular tobacco smoker are definitively over.

I hope my story serves as a cautionary tale for younger people vaping flavored nicotine. Recent news articles reporting deaths and severe complications related to vaping serve as stark reminders of the dangers associated with this habit. Obesity increases the risk of respiratory disease, but no one is immune to the potential hazards of vaping. Prioritize your health and well-being before it is too late.

Conclusion

My journey with nicotine, from cigarettes to vaping and finally quitting, has been complex and challenging. The health scare resulting from my lymph node infection was the sole reason I decided to quit vaping. By sharing my story, I hope to encourage younger people to reconsider their use of flavored nicotine vapes and take control of their health and well-being.

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Bibliography

"American Vape Victim: North Carolina Woman, 44, Dies from Lung Failure After Switching from Cigarettes to Fruity Flavored Electronic Device." Daily Mail, March 21, 2023. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1136043/American-vape-victim-North-Carolina-woman-44-DIES-lung-failure-switching-cigarettes-fruity-flavored-electronic-device.html.

"Vaping Addict from Ohio Is Left Fighting for Her Life with Deadly Lung Condition After Smoking Entire E-liquid Cartridge Daily for Seven Years (the Equivalent of Fifty Cigarettes per Day)." Daily Mail, February 5, 2023. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1152677/Vaping-addict-Ohio-left-fighting-life-deadly-lung-condition-smoking-entire-e-liquid-cartridge-daily-seven-YEARS-equivalent-FIFTY-cigarettes-day.html.