What does vaping do to your body?

The aerosol produced by e-cigarettes is not harmless "steam". It can affect human health in various ways, and the effects can be broadly classified into short-term and long-term categories.
⚡️ Short-term and immediate effects
These effects may occur shortly after use or within a short period:
Cardiovascular system pressure: After consumption, the heart rate will immediately increase and blood pressure will rise. At the same time, vascular function will be impaired and an inflammatory response may be triggered.
Respiratory system irritation: Common symptoms include inflamed throat, persistent coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, etc. During inhalation, one may also experience chest tightness and discomfort, as well as increased mucus production.
Nicotine addiction and withdrawal: Nicotine is highly addictive. Once addicted, stopping the use may result in withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, and poor concentration.
Acute injury risk: There is a risk that the equipment may catch fire or explode due to battery failure, which could cause severe burns. Children who ingest or come into contact with the smoke liquid through their skin may suffer from acute nicotine poisoning, which could even be fatal.
⚠️ Long-term health risks
Long-term use of e-cigarettes can cause severe and potentially irreversible damage to multiple systems in the body:
Damage to the respiratory system
E-cigarettes directly harm the lungs.
Causing severe lung injury (EVALI): This is an acute and severe lung disease. As of the beginning of 2020, nearly 3,000 hospitalizations and several deaths have been reported in the United States.
Increases the risk of chronic diseases: Long-term use significantly increases the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may trigger or exacerbate asthma.
Resulting in lung lesions: May cause lipid pneumonia, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, etc.
Increases lung cancer risk: Although the levels of carcinogens may be lower than those in traditional cigarettes, the aerosol of electronic cigarettes contains known or suspected carcinogens such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Studies have shown that it may increase the risk of lung cancer.
Damage to the cardiovascular system
Increases the risk of cardiovascular events: Daily use is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and may also increase the risk of developing heart disease.
Causing vascular dysfunction: Nicotine damages the vascular endothelium, leading to impaired vascular function. This is a precursor to many cardiovascular diseases.
Damage to brain development (especially in teenagers)
Affects cognition and emotions: Nicotine damages the areas of the brain that control attention, learning, emotions and impulse control, leading to problems such as learning disabilities and anxiety.
Increases the risk of addiction: The brains of teenagers are more prone to nicotine addiction, and this may also increase the risk of addiction to other drugs in the future.
Effects on the reproductive system and pregnancy
Harm to fetal development: Pregnant women who use e-cigarettes will have nicotine in their bodies, which can damage the developing brain and lungs of the fetus.
Affecting reproductive function: There are reports suggesting that e-cigarettes may have adverse effects on reproductive functions.
Other systemic effects
Genetic damage and cancer: Studies have shown that even short-term use can cause DNA damage to oral cells. Some research has even found that over 3,000 genes in the oral cells of users exhibit abnormal expression.
The compounded risks of dual use: The concurrent use of electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes (dual use) is quite common, and its health risks are much higher than those of using either one alone. For instance, the risk of developing COPD for dual users may be nearly three times higher than that of those who do not use electronic cigarettes.
Summary
In summary, the harm caused by e-cigarettes to the body is clear and multi-faceted. They are by no means a safe alternative. The risks it brings include immediate effects on the heart and lungs, as well as long-term risks of cancer, lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and brain damage.
At present, the full long-term health effects of e-cigarettes are still being studied by the scientific community. The World Health Organization (WHO) clearly recommends that the safest option is to neither use e-cigarettes nor any tobacco products.