Vaping has become common over the past decade. It’s often marketed as a safer alternative to smoking or a tool to help people quit cigarettes. While e-cigarettes don’t produce tar or burn tobacco, they come with their own risks and side effects.
Learn what vaping does to the body, why it can be difficult to stop, and what support is available if you’re thinking about quitting.
Is vaping addictive?
Yes, vaping can be addictive. Most vape products contain nicotine, which changes the way the brain works by repeatedly activating its reward and attention systems. If you vape often, the brain gets used to this. Not having nicotine can feel uncomfortable or even distressing.
Vaping can deliver more nicotine than cigarettes. A single 10ml bottle of e-liquid at 20mg/ml contains roughly the same amount of nicotine as 200 cigarettes, and it’s absorbed into the bloodstream quickly. Add to that, you can vape almost anywhere, without needing to step outside or take a break. It’s easy to see how the habit builds.
There’s also the routine of holding the device and the hand-to-mouth motion throughout the day. These patterns become part of daily life and take time to unlearn, even once the nicotine is out of your system.
What are the side effects of vaping?
You could experience short or long-term side effects from vaping.
Short-term side effects of vaping
Soon after starting to vape, you may experience:
- Dry mouth or throat
- Coughing or wheezing
- Headaches
- Nausea or dizziness
- Chest tightness
Long-term side effects of vaping
Vaping hasn’t been around long enough for its long-term effects to be fully understood. However, available research has raised some concerns.
Regular vaping has been linked to:
- Lung damage such as inflammation or reduced capacity
- Raised blood pressure and heart rate
- Addiction to nicotine
- Increased anxiety or low mood
The Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) warns that vaping can increase your risk of nicotine addiction and negatively impact mental health.
Does vaping harm your lungs?
There’s evidence linking regular vaping to lung inflammation and reduced lung capacity. In more serious cases involving unregulated products, a condition called EVALI has led to hospitalisations and deaths.
E-liquids can contain a lot of chemicals. Many of these haven’t been studied in depth. For example, some flavourings are safe to eat, but heating and inhaling them may be a different story.
What vaping withdrawal feels like
If you’ve tried to cut down or stop vaping, you may have noticed symptoms like:
- Strong cravings
- Irritability or anxiety
- Low mood
- Trouble sleeping
- Headaches or dizziness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Increased appetite
- Coughing or throat irritation
These tend to peak in the first week and ease over time, though cravings can last longer. It’s not easy, and if you’ve struggled to get through it alone, that’s understandable.
Who should be especially careful about vaping?
Vaping may carry more risks for some people, including:
Teenagers and young adults
The brain continues to develop until a person is in their mid-twenties. Using nicotine during this time can affect memory, focus and impulse control. Young people who vape are also more likely to go on to smoke.
People with health conditions
Asthma, lung disease or heart problems can all be aggravated by vaping.
Non-smokers
There’s no benefit to starting and doing so can create dependency.
Pregnant people
Nicotine from cigarettes or vapes can affect an unborn baby’s development. If you’re finding it hard to stop, a healthcare provider can offer advice.
Does vaping help you to quit smoking?
The HSE doesn’t recommend vaping as a way to quit smoking. This is because vaping comes with risks of its own.
If you want to quit smoking there are many ways you can get support. These include:
- Contact a Stop Smoking Clinic in your area to get advice and 1-to-1 support
- Join a We Can Quit support group where you can share your experiences with other smokers
- Speak with your GP or pharmacist about your options such as nicotine replacement therapy or prescription medications
If you’re already receiving treatment for another addiction, speak with your addiction counsellor or health team about stopping smoking too. At Smarmore Castle we support people to quit smoking while in addiction rehab, if this is something you want to do.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vaping
Is vaping safer than smoking?
Some people consider vaping to be less harmful than smoking. However, vaping is not risk-free. It usually contains nicotine and still exposes the body to chemicals. The long-term health effects of vaping are not yet fully understood.
Do your lungs heal after you quit vaping?
After you stop vaping, your body begins a natural recovery process. Lung function can improve over time, particularly if vaping hasn’t caused significant or lasting damage.
In cases where serious lung conditions develop, some damage may be permanent. Stopping vaping as early as possible offers the best protection for long-term lung health.
Is vaping before surgery safer than smoking?
Vaping before surgery is not considered safe and should be avoided. Vaping can also irritate the airways, which may make breathing more difficult under anaesthesia.
It may also:
– Reduce the effectiveness of anaesthetic
– Increase the risk of complications during surgery
– Slow down wound healing
– Increase the risk of infection
– Contribute to discomfort after the procedure
If you have vaped recently, it’s important to tell your medical team before your surgery. This helps them keep you safe during and after surgery.
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References
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