What does vaping do?

E-cigarettes generate aerosol (commonly known as "steam") by heating liquid, which is inhaled by users. Although they do not contain some of the carcinogens produced by traditional tobacco combustion, this does not mean they are harmless. In fact, using e-cigarettes can affect your body in various ways.

⚡️ Immediate effects: What happens to the body in a short period of time?
Shortly after using an e-cigarette, the body undergoes a series of measurable changes:

Cardiovascular system: Heart rate increases, blood pressure rises. This is caused by nicotine stimulating the sympathetic nervous system.

Respiratory system: Symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and wheezing may occur. This is a sign of lung irritation and inflammatory response.

Others: Some people may also experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Long-term damage to the respiratory system
This is the most clear and direct area affected by e-cigarettes.

Triggering respiratory symptoms and diseases: Multiple studies have confirmed that e-cigarettes increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. A 2025 systematic review and Meta-analysis found that non-smoking users of e-cigarettes have a 1.90 times higher risk of developing respiratory symptoms compared to non-users.

Causing "popcorn lung": Some flavorings (especially butter flavor) contain diacetyl, which, when inhaled, may lead to a severe lung disease called "obstructive bronchiolitis," commonly known as "popcorn lung."

Causing acute lung injury (EVALI): This is a serious and even fatal lung disease related to e-cigarette use. The 2019 EVALI outbreak in the United States led to over 2,800 hospitalizations, and the main culprit was vitamin E acetate added to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) products. However, note that even e-cigarettes without THC can cause EVALI.

Inducing lung inflammation and oxidative stress: E-cigarette aerosol can trigger lung inflammation and oxidative stress, damaging the structure and barrier function of the lungs. Even using e-liquid containing vegetable glycerin (VG) can increase markers of lung inflammation.

❤️ Long-term threat to the cardiovascular system
The long-term effects of nicotine on the cardiovascular system are also not to be ignored.

Increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases: Long-term use increases the risk of coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, etc.

Damaging vascular function: E-cigarettes damage vascular function, and their impact is sufficient to draw the attention of the American Heart Association (AHA).

 Harm to brain development and mental health (especially for teenagers)
Nicotine is extremely harmful to developing brains, especially for young people under the age of 25.

Damaging brain development: Nicotine damages brain regions responsible for attention control, learning, memory, emotion, and impulse control.

Causing mental health problems: Nicotine addiction itself aggravates stress, anxiety, and depression, etc. Many young people start or continue using e-cigarettes because they feel anxious or stressed.

Increasing the risk of future drug addiction: Exposure to nicotine during adolescence may increase the risk of future drug addiction.

Addiction and "entry effect"
High addiction: The nicotine concentration in e-cigarettes can be very high (such as 60mg/mL), with extremely strong addiction. Users may quickly develop dependence.

The "door to traditional cigarettes": Teenagers who use e-cigarettes are 70% more likely to try traditional cigarettes in the future.

 Harm to special populations
Pregnant women and fetuses: Nicotine is toxic to developing fetuses and may cause premature birth and low birth weight of newborns.

Children: Children who ingest or come into contact with e-liquid have the risk of acute nicotine poisoning. In the United States, over 80% of e-cigarette-related poisoning emergency calls involve children under the age of 5.

 The Hazards of Secondhand Aerosol (Secondhand Steam)
The "secondhand steam" produced by e-cigarettes is not harmless water vapor.

Release of harmful substances: It releases ultra-fine particles, nicotine, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds and other harmful substances into the air.

Pollution of indoor air: It can increase the indoor PM2.5 concentration by 6 times.

Harm to others' health: These substances will be inhaled by people around, posing risks to children, pregnant women, and those with sensitive respiratory systems.

💎 Summary
In summary, e-cigarettes cause definite short-term and long-term damage to multiple organs such as the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and brain. They are not a safe alternative, especially posing greater risks to groups such as teenagers and pregnant women. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States believes that for adults who are already smokers, if they completely and thoroughly switch to e-cigarettes, it may have some potential for reducing harm, this approach has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an aid for quitting smoking, and it is not applicable to non-smokers and teenagers.