Vaping and Its Impact on Health: What You Need to Know

Just like cigarettes, vapes can be bad for your health. Knowing what vapes are, how they work, and how they can affect you can help you make better choices.

What Are Vapes?

Vapes are gadgets that let people breathe in vapor instead of smoke. Instead of burning tobacco, vapes heat a liquid called vape juice or e-liquid. This liquid has nicotine and other chemicals in it.

Types of Vapes

There are different kinds of vapes, and they come in many styles, nicotine levels, and flavors. Here are some common ones:

Disposable Vapes: These are used once and then thrown away.
Pod Vapes: These can be recharged and refilled, and you can use them many times.
Box Mod Vapes: These have more nicotine and a longer-lasting battery.

Some vapes can look like everyday items, like markers, pens, or USB drives, making them easy to hide.

What’s Inside a Vape?

Vape juice has harmful chemicals, including heavy metals like nickel and lead. Some of these chemicals are also found in things like bug spray and nail polish remover.

Nicotine in Vapes

Many vapes say they don’t have nicotine, but they might have small amounts. Nicotine is addictive, which means you might want to use more and more. For example, one pod vape can have as much nicotine as 20 cigarettes.

Side Effects of Nicotine:

Headaches
Nausea
Vomiting
Rapid heart rate
Dizziness

Health Effects of Vaping

Even though vapes might seem better than cigarettes, they are still harmful. They are especially bad for young people, pregnant people, and developing babies. Vaping can also affect brain development up to age 25.

Here’s how vaping can harm your body:

Lungs and Heart: Chemicals can cause irritation, swelling, and trouble breathing.
Teeth: Nicotine can cause cavities and decay.
Brain: Chemicals can hurt memory, thinking, and learning.
Organs: Toxic chemicals can build up in your blood.
Head: You might get headaches from irritation in your eyes, throat, and nose.
Skin: If a vape battery malfunctions, it can cause burns.

Short-Term Effects

You might notice these short-term effects right after using a vape: dry mouth and throat, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Long-Term Effects

Over time, vaping can also lead to the following:

Asthma: Risk of developing or worsening existing asthma.
EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury): A serious lung condition.
Addiction: Strong cravings for nicotine.
Secondhand Vape Exposure: Harmful chemicals that can affect people who don’t vape.
Mental Health Conditions: Increased risk of anxiety and depression.

Children and Vaping

Teens who vape are more likely to become addicted and might try cigarettes or other tobacco products later. Young people might start vaping because of a variety of factors, including:

Peer Pressure: Feeling like they need to fit in with friends or family.
Mental Health: Using vapes to cope with stress or anxiety.
Vape Marketing: Attractive colors, flavors, and low prices designed to catch their attention.

Want to Quit Vaping?

Here are some tips to help you stop:

Get Rid of Vaping Items: Throw away your vapes to help reduce temptation.
Handle Cravings: Cravings usually last 3-5 minutes. Try chewing gum, going for a walk, or reading a book to distract yourself.
Avoid Triggers: Stay away from places or situations that make you want to vape.
Find Support: Surround yourself with people who encourage you to quit.
Remember Why: Keep in mind why you want to quit, like improving your health, saving money, avoiding addiction, and protecting others from secondhand vape exposure.

Understanding the risks of vaping and deciding to quit can help you live a healthier life without nicotine. McMillen Health is dedicated to teaching preventive health education to students of all ages. We offer several programs on vaping, including: