The Effects of Vaping
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When vaping first became popular many people thought it was safer than smoking cigarettes. It was even advertised as safer—by the companies who produced vaping equipment and flavored nicotine. After years of young people getting addicted to vaping and years of people developing serious illnesses from vaping, regulations were finally enacted that limited flavored e-cigarettes.
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It is now known that vaping has serious health effects.
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Vaping delivers nicotine into your body. Nicotine is highly addictive. Chemical changes made by nicotine causes the body to need more of it and the addicted person cannot easily stop vaping. Continued vaping leads to health problems.
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Nicotine slows brain development in
teens. Brain development continues until
the age of 25 years and damage during
the critical teenage years can cause
problems throughout adulthood.
Problems with memory, concentration,
learning and self-control occur. Students
who vape experience a decrease in
attention spans.
Image: CDC
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Vaping irritates the lungs and can cause
serious lung damage and even death.
Severe lung disease from vaping has been reported in all 50 states.
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Even if vaping doesn’t result in serious lung damage, it affects lung function. Athletes who vape find they can no longer participate in sports because they don’t have the lung capacity needed for sporting activities.
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E-cigarettes contain carcinogens (cancer-causing compounds). The effects of these cancer-causing compounds can lead to serious consequences in later life.
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So, why do teens vape?
â–ºOne problem is that they try it and become addicted. Even if they want to quit, it is very hard and they don’t always manage to give it up. When a person tries to give up something they have become addicted to, withdrawal symptoms occur. Withdrawal from a drug leads to uncomfortable symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, mood swings, trouble sleeping and restlessness. Many people don’t handle withdrawal well and go back to vaping to relieve the symptoms.
â–ºOther reasons teens vape is that they hear it is not that bad for their health, they think it looks cool and they think it won’t hurt them. We know that is not true, but teens think they’ll try it once and then they end up developing an addiction.
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â–ºThe marketing of e-cigarettes is aimed at getting teens to try it. The packaging that looks like a tech device and the flavors that appeal to teens make it seem harmless and cool to vape. We know that it is NOT harmless.
Think of the consequences of vaping before you try it. If you are already using e-cigarettes, try to quit. If you experience withdrawal symptoms, know that symptoms get better a few days after you quit.
Find out more about vaping in this module.
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