Can I get a cold from vaping?

Although e-cigarettes themselves do not cause you to contract the common cold virus, existing evidence indicates that they significantly increase your risk of catching a cold in various ways.
?? Major risks: Why do e-cigarettes make you more prone to catching a cold?
E-cigarettes increase your risk of catching a cold through the following three ways:
Weakening the immune system of the lungs: E-cigarettes can suppress and damage the first line of defense of the lungs against viruses. For instance, they can slow down the movement of cilia in our airways, reducing the ability to remove foreign particles (including viruses). Studies have found that e-cigarette vapor can damage the functions of key immune cells in the lungs (such as macrophages), reducing their ability to eliminate viruses. A clinical trial also directly proved that e-cigarettes can "suppress the immune response to respiratory virus infections". Even e-cigarettes without nicotine can still damage the lungs.
Increase respiratory tract inflammation: Studies have shown that the vapor from e-cigarettes directly causes inflammation in respiratory cells. Inflammation is a signal that the body uses to fight, but the long-term, low-level inflammation caused by the vapor "tricking" the body makes the respiratory tract more vulnerable and more susceptible to viral invasion. In an inflammatory environment, once a virus enters, its replication speed will be faster, leading to more severe infections. A study involving 120 young people aged 18-22 found that those who used e-cigarettes more frequently had more severe cold and flu symptoms.
Cross-infection on electronic cigarette devices: This is the most direct mode of infection. Sharing electronic cigarettes can cause various pathogens to spread among different users.
Direct transmission of viruses and bacteria: When you share an e-cigarette with someone else, you are essentially exchanging saliva and respiratory secretions directly. This provides a convenient means for the spread of viruses such as colds and flu, as well as bacteria that may cause meningitis.
A vivid analogy: Doctors and experts have issued stern warnings about this. Dr. Hana Patel, a general practitioner from the UK, clearly stated:
Sharing e-cigarettes can spread cold and flu viruses... Because you inhale the smoke directly from someone else's mouth, it's just as unhygienic as sharing a toothbrush... But people don't realize that this is harmful.
Public health agencies also recommend avoiding sharing e-cigarettes to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and virus transmission.
?? Indirect correlation: Cold symptoms and e-cigarette lung damage
Similarity of symptoms: E-cigarette-related lung damage has symptoms (such as coughing, fever, fatigue, headache) that are very similar to those of a cold and the flu. For example, according to data from the US CDC as of November 2019, the typical symptoms of 2,172 cases of related lung damage reported in the US included these. This similarity poses a challenge for doctors in making accurate diagnoses.
Potential risks of coexistence: Although scientists are still conducting research, it cannot be ruled out that lung damage from e-cigarettes may occur concurrently with other respiratory diseases. Therefore, medical guidelines recommend that doctors should also consider the possibility of EVALI when conducting flu tests.
?? Important Reminder
The "healthier alternative" claim of e-cigarettes: Most public health agencies emphasize that e-cigarettes pose less risk than traditional cigarettes and are primarily used as a harm-reduction tool to help adult smokers quit smoking completely.
Non-smokers must not attempt it: The CDC and other authoritative institutions have clearly stated that non-smokers should not use e-cigarettes.
Avoid double use: If you are trying to quit smoking, a complete switch to e-cigarettes is more likely to reduce risks than "double use" (smoking cigarettes while also using e-cigarettes).
?? Summary
In conclusion, e-cigarettes do not magically create cold viruses, but they do disrupt the immune battlefield in your lungs, making it easier for viruses to invade and replicate. Sharing devices also directly transmits pathogens, making you more susceptible to colds and flu.