What can vaping do to you?

Vaping can cause various and sometimes even serious harm to the body. It is by no means harmless vapor; the aerosol it produces contains multiple harmful substances, which can have short-term and long-term negative impacts on the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and brain development.

Respiratory System: From Irritation to Disease
This is the system most directly affected by vaping.

Short-term irritation and symptoms: Users often experience respiratory symptoms such as coughing, dry throat, chest tightness, wheezing, and exercise-induced shortness of breath. A meta-analysis found that non-smoking e-cigarette users have a 1.9 times higher risk of respiratory symptoms compared to non-users.

Long-term disease risk: There is "moderate certainty" evidence suggesting that non-smoking e-cigarette users have a higher risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung inflammation, and damage. Animal and epidemiological data also suggest that long-term use is associated with lung cytotoxicity, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and structural lung damage.

Acute lung injury (EVALI): This is a severe acute disease with symptoms including breathing difficulties, fever, cough, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and dizziness. The outbreak in the United States in 2019 led to over 2,800 hospitalizations, and its culprit was traced to the addition of vitamin E acetate in illegal THC products.

❤️ Cardiovascular System: Acute Functional Disturbances
The impact of vaping on the cardiovascular system occurs quickly after use and is not related to whether the e-liquid contains nicotine.

Heart rate and blood pressure: Vaping causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

Vascular Function: Short-term use can observe impaired vascular endothelial function and increased arterial stiffness, which are risk factors for cardiovascular events. Although the vascular inflammatory response caused by vaping is usually less than that of traditional cigarettes, both products damage health through the same mechanisms.

Brain and Addiction: Special Hazards for Adolescents
Nicotine is the main addictive substance in e-cigarettes, and its harm to the developing brain is particularly severe.

High Addiction: Nicotine is highly addictive, and adolescents may show signs of addiction before starting regular use.

Damage to Brain Development: Brain development lasts until about 25 years old. Using nicotine during this period damages brain regions responsible for attention control, learning, emotion, and impulse control. Studies also show that exposure to nicotine during adolescence is associated with later declines in working memory and attention.

"Entry Effect": Teenagers who start vaping are nearly three times more likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes in the future. The WHO also clearly states that e-cigarettes are fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction.

 Oral Health: Bacterial Imbalance and Tissue Damage
Vaping directly damages the oral environment, increasing the risk of oral diseases.

Bacterial Alteration: Vaping disrupts the composition and diversity of the oral microbiome, inhibiting normal flora and creating conditions for the growth of cariogenic bacteria.

Clinical Issues: Studies show that e-cigarette users may have a higher prevalence of dental caries (tooth decay). Additionally, vaping can damage periodontal health, promote the development of periodontitis, and have a negative impact on periodontal treatment.

☠️ Other Important Risks
Potential Carcinogenicity: Although studies on non-smokers have not found a direct significant association between e-cigarettes and cancer, biomarker evidence suggests potential risks. Studies have found that exposure to e-cigarettes is significantly associated with oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, DNA damage, and genetic toxicity. Some studies have confirmed that even short-term use causes mutations in users' cells, which are associated with an increased risk of cancer.

Secondhand Exposure Risk: The secondhand aerosol produced by vaping also contains toxic substances and poses a threat to the health of those around. Studies have shown that second-hand exposure is associated with symptoms such as bronchitis, shortness of breath, asthma, and throat irritation.

Poisoning and explosion risks: If e-cigarette oil is accidentally ingested by children, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, it may cause acute nicotine poisoning. Additionally, lithium batteries in e-cigarette devices have also experienced accidental fires or explosions, causing burns to users.

Summary
Using e-cigarettes can cause harm to multiple systems throughout the body. There is relatively clear evidence of its harm to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and the negative impact on brain development and oral health is also very significant. Although the long-term carcinogenic risk still requires more research to fully clarify, the existing biomarker evidence has raised a red flag. In particular, e-cigarettes pose a special and serious health threat to teenagers and pregnant women.