Timeline shows what happens to your body when you quit vaping as UK introduces vaping ban
The day has finally arrived, folks - disposable vapes are officially banned in the UK.
In scenes reminiscent of what unfolded in wake of the 2007 smoking ban, there has been a lot of debate about whether this law change will work the way the government hopes.
A great deal of people gave up cigarettes after the rules around where you could light up where redefined 18 years ago, and hopefully, we will see a similar trend among vapers from Sunday, 1 June.
Brits will still be able to get their fix with reusable devices, but disposable ones will no longer line the shelves in your local shop.
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It's all part of the government's plan to make the nation healthier, as well as protecting the planet by reducing the production of 'wasteful' single-use plastics used in vapes.
A lot of people will be taking the introduction of the disposable vapes ban as an opportunity to quit their habit, once and for all.
You can begin to notice the benefits of giving up within less than half an hour - but you can read the full timeline of what happens to your body below.
Why is the ban on disposable vapes being introduced?
As mentioned, the Labour party are banning disposable vapes in the hopes of improving public health and producing less plastic.
Government ministers believe that the move will help put a stop to the 'avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation’s streets', as it turns out a lot of vapers don't like disposing of them in bins.
Instead, they often end up dumped on the roadside - but hopefully, we will start seeing a lot less of this littering from today (1 June).
As well as this, officials have got their fingers crossed that we will all start looking after ourselves a bit more, which in turn will relieve some of the pressure on the NHS.
A concerning number of youngsters have also become hooked on using the brightly coloured and fruit flavoured e-cigarettes, and politicians reckoned it was time for change.
In September last year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told parliament, as per The Telegraph: "I support the banning of disposable vapes, not least because of the impact they have on children."
What does the ban mean for businesses?
From 1 June, it is illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes in the UK, while it is also illegal to offer to sell or supply single-use vapes.
Stocking disposable vapes that you plan to sell or supply is also against the law amid the new rules.
These regulations apply to both high street and online retailers, although they are still allowed to sell some vaping products.
Shops are now only legally able to sell vapes that are rechargeable, refillable and have a coil that can be easily replaced - and any product which doesn't meet all of these requirements are illegal.
Anyone found breaking the rules will be charged an on-the-spot fine of £200, while re-offenders may face unlimited fines or jail time.
So, for those who are left with no choice but to go cold turkey, what exactly happens to your body after taking that last ever puff?
20 minutes after quitting
Although it might sound too good to be true, it takes minutes for your body to start recovering after you stop vaping.
Within just 20 minutes, you start to reap a number of rewards health-wise.
This includes your heart rate returning to normal, your blood pressure dropping and your circulation returning to normal levels, Nikola Djordjevic MD, project manager at Med Alert Help explained.
Health and wellness expert Caleb Backe concurred, while adding that your breathing will soon become 'less laboured' and your airflow is 'clearer'.
24 hours after quitting
It only gets better from there on out, too, as Djordjevic explained that after just one day of not vaping, the risk of you suffering a heart attack 'starts to decrease'.
She explained that your blood pressure and cholesterol will also return to normal.
Djordjevic said that 'thanks to the lowering of blood pressure, rising blood oxygen levels, and reducing the negative influence on cholesterol levels and the formation of blood clots', you will feel tons better.
Sadly, it's not all good news, as you will probably be experiencing a number of withdrawal symptoms at this point as well.
But it will all be worth it when you're no longer flipping tables to find your vape, don't you think?
Months after quitting
If you've managed a few months without vaping, you'll probably feel like a whole new person.
The long-term benefits will really start to shine through, as nicotine takes about three days to leave your system, and within a month, your lungs will begin recovering, according to Djordjevic.
"There’s noticeably less shortness of breath and coughing," she highlighted.
The health expert further continued: "After nine months, lung health improves significantly thanks to the renewal of microscopic hair-like structures inside the lungs that help push out mucus and fight infections."
Again, you may experience some withdrawal symptoms still, though they should be far less noticeable than before.
Years after quitting
At this point, you'll probably have no idea why you were hooked on vapes for so long.
Your lungs, among other body parts, will have had a chance to restore themselves and you will have drastically reduced your risk of suffering from a number of scary illnesses.
By the 12-month mark, your risk of heart attacks is slashed in half. And for those who go all the way and get to five years vape-free, your risk of suffering a stroke is also significantly reduced.
Olivia Burke