You peeled away from cigarettes and moved over to a vape, believing it was a safer alternative. Yet a new study is putting even nicotine free vaping into question – even though it isn’t as harmful as some people think. Although vaporing removes some of the harmful chemicals in traditional cigarettes, like tar and many carcinogens, researchers now say that the base ingredients and flavorings in vapor juices may still be an issue with regards to health. This is especially alarming, as these risks apply directly to the cardiovascular system of your body and your heart.
If you have never smoked before, but have taken up vaping and assumed it’s a fashionable and/or low risk habit, then this could be an unnecessary gamble on your health. Even so, even the so-called nicotine-free e-cigarettes can damage blood vessels and, potentially, cause heart disease or circulation problems, according to a study to be published Monday in 2024. In their study, the researchersследовало, как действуют nicotine-free vapes, nicotine-containing vapes, and traditional cigarettes. All three affected vascular function, but the nicotine-containing vapes were the most harmful, found the results. Though, even so, the amount of decline in blood vessel health from nicotine free vaping remained significant.
According to one of the study’s authors, Dr Marianna Nabbout, their research shows how quickly vaping can affect your body’s vascular system. But if vaping affects blood vessel function for a single session, then the chronic use of the habit could result in chronic vascular diseases, she warned. Meanwhile, the idea that switching to vaping, including vaping without nicotine, is safe is confuted by this finding.
Vapes are battery powered devices that heat a liquid, as commonly referred to as vape juice or e juice, to produce an aerosol which the person then inhales. Usually it includes propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin — which when ingested in food or drink are considered generally regarded as safe. Although inhaling these compound, especially heated, they break down into harmful by products. These may even cause coughing, difficulty breathing, and inflammation of the lungs and airways.
The problem with that might be the flavorings. Young people particularly are drawn to new users who offer fruit, dessert or minty flavors. Yet many of these flavors contain chemicals called diacetyl (a chemical linked to popcorn lung), benzaldehyde (an irritant to the respiration system) or both. And it may also be inhaling the vapor of heavy metals that are released by heating coils such as nickel, tin, and lead.
However, Dr. Michael Blaha of Johns Hopkins medicine cautions that you are most probably exposing yourself to an array of unknown, potentially unsafe chemicals through vaping. Vaping in particular is especially concerning to him because it’s being seen as something entirely new, like vaping among those who never smoked before, particularly teens. In 2021, more than 2 million U.S. middle and high school students had used e-cigarettes, and 80 percent of them liked the flavor. Starting with flavored vapes may teach users to jump to regular tobacco products after developing a nicotine dependence, said Blaha.
The thing that is most astounding is that people tend to presume vaping is harmless due to its smoke free nature. Still, the vapor can have a lot of hidden dangers, not just for your lungs but the entire cardiovascular system as well. Taking notice of this study is a wake-up call to know that “nicotine-free” means no way risk-free.
Certainly this new research should rattle someone who is vaping thinking it’s safe and give pause if you are vaping or know anyone who is vaping. The trend is starting to happen, and the early science is disturbing. If you never smoked to begin with, you should think twice before you puff. It may thank your heart and your blood vessels.
Has it occurred to you to have thoughts or experiences with vaping? So tell us in the comments below, and share this story with others who tend to believe vaping is an ideal alternative to smoking.
