Symptoms of vaping

The symptoms of using electronic cigarettes (vaping) vary depending on individual differences and the type of product used, ranging from common mild discomfort to severe lung damage requiring emergency medical attention. According to current medical data, the main symptoms can be classified into the following categories.

 Respiratory system symptoms (most common)
This is the system most directly affected by electronic cigarettes, and symptoms may appear shortly after use.

Common symptoms: coughing (mostly dry cough), shortness of breath, especially more noticeable during exercise. A large study (PATH study) found that the proportion of current and former electronic cigarette users reporting these respiratory symptoms was higher than that of never users.

Persistence: It is worth noting that former users are still more likely to report persistent respiratory symptoms, suggesting that past exposure may cause residual or persistent effects.

Oral and throat discomfort: Due to the inhalation of heated aerosol, dryness, irritation, pain, and dry mouth are extremely common side effects. Case reports have shown that long-term use of electronic cigarettes can lead to acute throat irritation.

Cardiovascular and nervous system symptoms
The nicotine and other chemicals in electronic cigarette aerosol have immediate effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Cardiovascular reactions: Even a single use can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Long-term use is associated with impaired vascular endothelial function and increased arterial stiffness, which increases the risk of cardiovascular events.

Nervous system symptoms: Dizziness, headache are common reported symptoms. Additionally, there may be mental symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, and confusion. If you have inhaled electronic cigarettes from sources that are unknown and illegally contain other substances, you may also experience severe poisoning reactions such as hallucinations, mania, and confusion.

General and digestive system symptoms
These symptoms are sometimes precursors to more severe lung damage.

Common discomfort: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain are common digestive tract symptoms in adverse events related to electronic cigarette use.

General symptoms: Fever, chills, general weakness, muscle aches may also occur, especially in cases of acute lung damage.

 Serious complications: EVALI (Electronic Cigarette or Vaping Product-Related Lung Injury)
This is the most dangerous acute complication of electronic cigarettes, which has attracted widespread attention in 2019. As of February 2020, it has led to approximately 2,800 hospitalizations and 68 deaths in the United States.

The core symptoms of EVALI include:

Respiratory system: severe shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing.

General symptoms: fever, chills, fatigue.

Digestive system: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain.

Nervous system: headache, dizziness.

Key points: If you experience any combination of the above symptoms after using electronic cigarettes, especially shortness of breath and chest pain, you should seek medical attention immediately. Although vitamin E acetate is considered a major associated substance for EVALI, there are still cases where it is not related, indicating that other components or factors may also cause damage.

Dental health symptoms
The damage to the mouth caused by electronic cigarettes is also extensive and potentially irreversible.

Common problems: In addition to dry mouth (xerostomia) and bad breath, it may also cause oral candidiasis, oral mucosal lesions, tooth decay, and other problems.

"Electronic cigarette tongue": Some users experience changes in taste, numbness or reduced sensitivity of the tongue, which is called "vaper's tongue".

⚠️ Special warning: Risks from illegal additives
You may have previously known about certain specific products and need to pay special attention. Some illegal or unknown-source electronic cigarettes (such as those called "Kpods") may contain substances such as ketamine, propofol, etomidate. Using such products can cause extreme and serious neurological symptoms such as epileptic seizures, mental confusion, uncontrollable muscle spasms, etc. Users may appear in a "zombie-like" state, and in severe cases, it can even endanger life.

Summary
The symptom spectrum of electronic cigarettes is very wide. Respiratory system symptoms (coughing, shortness of breath) and oral-throat irritation are the most common signals. Cardiovascular (increased heart rate and blood pressure) and neurological (dizziness, headache) reactions also occur from time to time. The most alarming is EVALI, whose symptom combination (breathing difficulty, chest pain, fever, vomiting) is a sign of a medical emergency. No matter which type of electronic cigarette is used, if there is any discomfort, especially respiratory-related symptoms, professional medical help should be sought immediately.