Vaping has become an extremely popular trend, especially among teenagers and young adults. Many people believe vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. But is vaping truly safe? What are the effects of vaping on your body, especially with long-term use? Here we will explore what research has shown about how vaping affects different systems and organs.
How does vaping work?
Vaping devices, also known as e-cigarettes, electronically heat a liquid into an aerosol that the user inhales. The liquid usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and other additives. When vaping, the liquid turns into vapor, which is then inhaled into the lungs and absorbed into the body. Vaping allows users to inhale nicotine without burning tobacco like cigarettes. However, vaping still exposes the lungs and body to other chemicals and fine particles, usually at higher concentrations than cigarettes.
How are vaping devices regulated?
In 2016, the FDA finalized a rule extending their regulatory authority to cover all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. This included requiring age restrictions and health warnings on vaping products. However, due to lawsuits from the vaping industry, the FDA’s oversight of vaping products was delayed for several years. It wasn’t until 2020 that manufacturers were required to submit their vaping products to the FDA for review and authorization. As of October 2022, the FDA has rejected over 1 million e-cigarette products mainly due to lack of sufficient safety data provided. However, many products remain on the market while undergoing FDA review.
This lack of regulation has resulted in wide variability in the ingredients and concentrations of chemicals in different vaping liquids. Studies have found toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, metals like lead, and cancer-causing agents in some vaping liquids and the vapor they produce. Without sufficient FDA oversight, there is limited data on the long-term safety of the majority of vaping products currently on the market.
How does vaping affect the lungs?
One of the main concerns with vaping is its effect on lung health. The vapor from vaping devices contains fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs. Studies have shown vaping negatively impacts lung function and health in several ways:
- Vaping irritates the airways and can cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The nicotine and flavorings in vaping liquids are known respiratory irritants.
- Studies have shown using e-cigarettes impacts measures of lung function like forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rate, indicating potential obstruction of airflow.
- Vaping increases oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs and impairs immune defenses against infections.
- Animal studies found e-cigarette vapor exposure alters normal lung development in young animals, raising concerns for teenagers who vape.
- Vaping liquids and vapor contain chemicals like formaldehyde that can damage lung tissue and cause DNA mutations that could lead to cancer.
In 2019, over 2,800 cases of severe lung illness tied to vaping were reported, leading to hospitalizations and deaths. While vitamin E acetate in THC vaping products was identified as the primary cause, this outbreak highlighted the potential serious lung dangers of vaping.
Does vaping cause popcorn lung?
“Popcorn lung” is the nickname for bronchiolitis obliterans, a severe lung disease caused by inhaling diacetyl. Diacetyl is a chemical sometimes added to foods like popcorn for flavoring. When inhaled in high concentrations, it can scar the smallest airways of the lungs, leading to cough and shortness of breath.
Some vaping liquids have been found to contain diacetyl. There have been a few reported cases of popcorn lung diagnosed in people who vape. However, so far studies have not found strong evidence directly linking vaping to popcorn lung. More research is still needed given the relatively new popularity of vaping.
How does vaping affect the heart and circulation?
There is emerging evidence that vaping can negatively impact cardiovascular health:
- Nicotine from vaping causes a temporary spike in heart rate and blood pressure. This demands extra work from the heart.
- Studies have shown chemicals in vaping liquids promote atherosclerosis, stiffening and narrowing of the arteries.
- Ultrasound studies in young adult vapers found reduced blood vessel function compared to non-users.
- Chemicals in vaping products damage the lining of blood vessels, which can lead to buildup of plaque.
- Some flavorings in vaping liquids impair nitric oxide function in blood vessels, affecting normal dilation.
Overall, these cardiovascular changes from exposure to vaping chemicals and nicotine increase the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and heart disease. More research is still needed on the long-term cardiovascular effects of vaping.
Does vaping increase the risk of heart attack or stroke?
Nicotine stimulates the release of adrenaline, which can raise blood pressure and heart rate. There is moderate evidence that vaping nicotine modestly increases heart rate and blood pressure. These temporary spikes in heart function increase the demand on the heart.
Studies have shown vaping impacts blood vessels and arterial function. Over time, these vascular changes are linked to higher risks of heart attack and stroke. However, more research is still needed on whether vaping directly increases heart attack and stroke risk to the same degree as smoking cigarettes.
Does vaping affect brain health and mental function?
Nicotine and other chemicals from vaping enter the brain and could affect neurologic function in several ways:
- Nicotine activates reward centers in the brain, leading to addiction.
- Vaping during youth and adolescence can disrupt normal brain development.
- Studies show nicotine from vaping impacts attention, learning, and impulse control in young people.
- Flavors and solvents in vaping liquids, like diacetyl, may increase risk of cognitive issues.
- Animal studies found vaping chemicals can cause inflammation in the brain that impacts memory and thinking.
More research is still needed into how vaping directly affects cognition, memory, attention, and mental health over the long-term.
Can vaping cause seizures?
In 2019, the FDA investigated reports of seizures potentially linked to vaping. They identified 35 reported cases of seizures following vaping between 2010 and early 2019. However, because details were limited, no clear connection could be made between vaping and seizures.
Some studies have shown that stimulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain from nicotine could theoretically promote seizure activity in vulnerable individuals. Additionally, withdrawal from heavy nicotine vaping could also potentially trigger seizures. However, overall clinical evidence directly linking vaping to seizures remains limited at this time.
How does vaping affect oral health?
A few studies have found vaping can negatively impact oral health:
- Inhaling vapor from vaping devices can dry out tissues in the mouth and increase risk of gum disease.
- Chemicals from vaping liquids are absorbed into saliva and can damage tooth enamel over time.
- One study found higher levels of oral bacteria that cause dental cavities in electronic cigarette users.
- Some flavorings in vaping liquids contain acids that erode and demineralize tooth enamel.
- Severe jawbone loss has been reported in some heavy users from vaping-related burns.
Overall, vaping can reduce saliva flow, promote gum inflammation, and damage tooth enamel through direct contact and acidic flavorings. This increases the risk of dental cavities, gum disease, enamel erosion, and tooth loss with long-term use.
How does vaping affect immunity and infection risk?
Some emerging research suggests vaping may alter normal immune function and increase susceptibility to infections:
- Studies show e-cigarette vapor impairs activity of immune cells like macrophages and natural killer cells.
- Vaping promotes inflammation and oxidative stress, which can impair immune defenses.
- Inhalation of vapor suppresses normal bacterial clearance mechanisms in airways and lungs.
- Nicotine itself negatively affects function of lymphocytes and other immune cells.
- Chemicals in vaping liquids, like propylene glycol, are toxic to some beneficial oral and airway bacteria.
Through a combination of nicotine effects and inflammation, vaping could potentially increase risk of lung infections, oral infections, and other illnesses. However, more research is still needed into the degree it affects susceptibility to infections, colds, flu, and more serious lung infections like pneumonia.
| System | Effects of Vaping |
|---|---|
| Lungs |
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| Heart |
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| Brain |
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| Mouth |
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| Immune System |
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Does vaping cause cancer?
Whether or not vaping directly causes cancer is less clear. Here is what research has found so far:
- Studies detected cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde and solvents in vaping liquids and vapor.
- These chemicals can damage DNA and cause mutations known to lead to cancer.
- In lab studies, vaping liquids have been shown to alter cell metabolism and cause cell death.
- One study found vaping promotes tumor growth and progression in mice.
- Analyses estimate lower cancer risk from vaping compared to smoking cigarettes.
While vaping might expose users to some of the same dangerous chemicals as cigarettes, the overall cancer risk is likely less. More long-term studies are needed to understand the true effects of chronic vaping on cancer risk as users age.
Does vaping cause lung cancer specifically?
Vaping exposes the lungs to many potential carcinogens, including formaldehyde, metals, and other toxins which could damage lung tissue. One study found vaping doubled the risk of lung adenocarcinomas in mice.
However, the vapor from e-cigarettes generally contains fewer and lower concentrations of cancer-causing agents compared to cigarette smoke. Estimates show the cancer risk of vaping is less than 5% the risk of smoking cigarettes. More research is needed, but this data suggests vaping is unlikely to cause lung cancer to the same degree tobacco smoking does.
How does vaping affect pregnancy?
Nicotine and chemicals from vaping could potentially affect fetal development in several ways during pregnancy:
- Nicotine crosses the placenta and reaches the developing fetus, which lacks the enzymes to clear it.
- Studies associate nicotine exposure in utero with lower birth weights and higher risks of preterm birth.
- Animal studies show nicotine exposure during pregnancy alters brain cell development and behaviors.
- Some flavorings and chemicals are considered possible reproductive toxins.
- One study found biomarkers of cell damage and oxidative stress in urine of pregnant vapers.
While the risks are not fully characterized yet, nicotine and other vaping chemicals do impact the growing fetus. This highlights the importance of avoiding vaping during pregnancy.
Can vaping during pregnancy cause birth defects?
A few studies have linked vaping during pregnancy to increased risk of certain birth defects. One study found a higher rate of facial defects. Another study saw increased risk of neural tube defects and cleft lip. However, overall evidence directly linking vaping to birth defects is limited at this time. More research is needed to understand the degree of risk vaping during pregnancy poses to fetal development.
Conclusion
Research clearly shows vaping negatively impacts lung function and health in several ways. There is moderate evidence it also harms cardiovascular health. While more studies are still needed, data shows vaping likely affects immunity, oral health, brain function, and fetal development as well.
While vaping presents less overall health risks compared to smoking cigarettes, it exposes users to many dangerous chemicals that damage lungs, blood vessels, and other tissues when inhaled. The long-term effects of chronic vaping are still unknown. With rising popularity, especially among youth, understanding the impacts of vaping on health will remain an important area of future research.