Vaping: Safe? Or Are Your Lungs Going Up In Smoke?
Vaping, a process of inhaling an aerosolized material into the lungs, has become increasingly popular. Because it simulates smoking, it was originally thought to be beneficial for people trying to quit smoking traditional cigarettes. Unfortunately, the health risks for vaping are just as high. In fact, the rapid rise of people vaping, especially among youth, has led to increased hospital admissions, overall health complications, needs for lung transplants, and in some cases, death. It’s important to understand risk factors about how vaping can affect your health.
What is Vaping?
Vaping is a process of inhaling an aerosolized material into the lungs. Specifically, a device heats a liquid referred to as vape juice or e-liquid to the point it turns into a vapor and is then inhaled. But flavorings and other components like nicotine, marijuana, and other potentially harmful substances, are found in vaping devices such as vapes, vape pens, e-cigarettes, mods, e-hookahs, tank systems and more. These devices all function in a similar way and therefore can be viewed as a collectively in terms of their impact on an individual’s lungs.
Statistics
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) performed a series of surveys and studies that showed an increasing number of people are vaping. Of particular concern is that the rate of teenagers vaping increased from 11 to nearly 15 percent between the years 2017 and 2024. Additionally, 40 percent of high school seniors have tried vaping at some point and over nine million people over the age of 18 currently vape.
The Science
The lung injury caused as a result of vaping was identified in 2019 and is referred to as E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI). Reviewing the data, the CDC reported that more than 2,800 people were hospitalized for EVALI between 2019 and 2020, and 68 of these people died. EVALI progresses through a process of inflammation but the exact mechanism is not completely known. What is known is that the components in the inhaled vapor include nicotine, extremely fine particles that are breathed deeply into the airways and lungs, flavorings like diacetyl, cancer-causing chemicals, and heavy metals like tin, nickel and lead. The inflammation these compounds create leads to direct lung damage and/or injury and increases the risk of lung collapse (pneumothorax), loss of lung function and other complications.
One particularly harmful ingredient in vape juice was with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) versions. These vapes were found to have a form of vitamin E and diacetyl added to them that are very harmful when heated and inhaled. In fact, diacetyl causes a lung injury referred to as “popcorn lung.” Popcorn lung is called this not because it makes the lungs look like popcorn, but rather because this disease was often seen in workers in a microwave popcorn factory where diacetyl was used as a flavoring additive.
Risks
Health risks are high with vaping. Nicotine has been found in 99 percent of vaping devices sold and can be highly addictive and impact mental health issues, especially in youth. Vaping in young people leads to an increased rate of smoking later in life which clearly increases cancer and other health problems. Also, the devices themselves are not completely safe; leaks have been reported that lead to explosions and burns.
Psychology
So, with all the problems, why do people vape? The answer is almost certainly a combination of factors. While some do use vaping as a legitimate tool to stop smoking, it has not been proven to be more effective than any other method. Advertisers have downplayed the risk factors of vaping, and manufacturers have aggressively marketed their products to youth with colorful packaging and fruity flavors. For younger users, any temporary “benefits” they might experience while vaping (lower levels of anxiety, depression or stress) are outweighed by the cycle of nicotine dependence that might occur with continued use. Dependence can also further challenge mental health and wellness for teenagers who are at higher risk for depression and anxiety.
Worth It?
Ultimately, the combination of risks related to vaping or e-cigarette use makes these devices unsafe and unhealthy. Many types of lung injuries are contained in the category of EVALI and can be quite severe. Furthermore, just as with any addiction, addressing the underlying challenges in one’s life offers an individual the best chance for long-term wellness rather than relying on these devices. This is an important conversation to have one’s primary care provider or mental health professional.
Our lungs have quite a job dealing with the air we breathe; adding harmful ingredients can be overwhelming and lead to problems. So, just stick to breathing fresh air and avoid vaping or smoking as much as you can. Your lungs and future self will thank you.
Sources
James Fenton, M.D., C.P.H.Q., is a board-certified, fellowship-trained thoracic surgeon with MyMichigan Health and a member of MyMichigan’s comprehensive cancer care team. As a thoracic surgeon, Dr. Fenton is dedicated to advanced and minimally invasive surgical management of a wide spectrum of thoracic conditions including disease of the lung, diaphragm, esophagus and the chest wall. He is dedicated to utilizing advanced surgical techniques, including robotic-assisted surgery, to improve quality outcomes and patient experience.
