All articles tagged with #vaping
A 19-year-old from Wolverhampton who began vaping at 13 was hospitalized with a collapsed lung, which doctors linked to his vaping. He even vaped in the hospital before doctors explained the cause, after which he quit the habit and hopes his story warns other teens about the health risks of vaping.
A qualitative review of vaping literature concludes nicotine-based e-cigarettes are likely carcinogenic, citing DNA damage and tissue inflammation observed in lab, animal, and case studies; however, the exact cancer risk cannot be quantified yet, and experts remain divided on how this risk compares to smoking.
Reaction to a Carcinogenesis paper on the carcinogenicity of e-cigarettes drew divided expert opinion. Some scientists say the review wrongly treats any detected trace as cancer-causing and note nicotine itself is not a carcinogen, stressing that vaping exposes far fewer tobacco-related carcinogens than smoking. Others criticize its lack of systematic methodology, opaque data handling, and selective citing, arguing it does not prove vaping causes cancer or quantify risk. Overall, experts agree vaping involves harm but remains a less harmful alternative to smoking for those who switch, and there is no robust evidence that vaping equals the cancer risk of combustion cigarettes.
A comprehensive review of more than 100 studies published since 2017 finds that vaping is likely to cause lung and oral cancers, supported by human biomarkers, animal studies, and lab data on vape liquids. Long-term, population-level risk cannot yet be quantified, but the evidence is strong enough to urge caution and stricter regulation, especially given higher risks for dual users and youths who start vaping.
An 18-year-old in Norwich, England, contracted meningitis after sharing a vape with friends on a nightclub night out. She was placed in a medically induced coma, with doctors warning she might not survive the next 24 hours, but she recovered with no lasting brain damage. Her mother and she now urge quick medical care for symptoms like fever, severe headache, a stiff neck, or delirium, noting the UK meningitis outbreak linked to nightlife and the danger of sharing vaping devices.
An 18-year-old Norwich girl contracted meningitis after sharing a vape with friends during a night out in October 2024. She was placed in a medically induced coma, with doctors warning she might not survive the next 24 hours, but she recovered with no lasting brain damage. Now 19, she’s wary of nightlife and urges others to seek prompt medical care for meningitis symptoms and to avoid sharing vapes, amid a UK outbreak linked to clubs.
A study of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) involving over 1,100 respondents found heavy daily use of THC-rich vape cartridges was linked to a faster onset of CHS symptoms, including the severe vomiting nicknamed “scromiting,” compared with smoking or edibles; researchers caution that the results show association, not causation, and CHS remains poorly understood with limited treatment options.
A Kentucky teenager’s attempt to “look cool” by vaping led to two pneumothorax episodes, requiring an 18-inch chest tube and later a pleurodesis to re-expand his lung. After quitting, he still experiences pain, and his mother is urging nationwide restrictions on vaping to protect youths, highlighting ongoing concerns about vaping-related health risks among teens and young adults.
Britain’s government has opened a 12‑week public consultation on banning smoking and vaping in cars carrying children, in playgrounds and around schools, and extending heated-tobacco restrictions to indoor spaces and certain outdoor hospital areas, while allowing vaping outdoors to aid quitting; homes would remain unchanged. If enacted, enforcement would mirror existing smoke‑free laws as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, with the consultation running until May 8, 2026.
A December 2025 study in Environmental Science & Technology finds that aerosols from e-cigarettes can become chemically reactive after lingering in indoor air, forming organic hydroperoxides and radicals; ultrafine particles concentrate redox-active metals like arsenic, tin, and lead, creating a “chemical cocktail” that may raise respiratory health risks for bystanders. The researchers urge treating vaping emissions like secondhand smoke and reducing indoor exposure, aligning with global policy debates and bans on vaping.
Vaping is considered safer than smoking due to the absence of combustion, but it remains addictive and challenging to quit, especially for young people. While evidence supports vaping as a less harmful alternative, many users struggle to stop due to behavioral and psychological factors, with various support strategies like gradual reduction, professional help, and behavioral therapies showing promise. Public misconceptions about vaping's risks persist, complicating efforts to reduce its use, particularly among youth.
For the first time in Great Britain, more adults use vapes than smoke cigarettes, with 5.4 million vaping compared to 4.9 million smoking, reflecting a decline in smoking rates and rising vaping popularity, especially among younger adults. Health experts acknowledge vaping as less harmful than smoking but caution about potential risks, especially for children and non-smokers. The government is implementing new regulations to restrict sales and marketing of vaping products to protect youth, amid ongoing efforts to reduce smoking-related deaths.
Research indicates that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking tobacco and can be an effective tool for quitting cigarettes, but public perception remains largely negative due to media and misinformation. Vaping delivers less toxic chemicals, and while not risk-free, it poses lower health risks, especially compared to the dangers of smoking. It is recommended for current smokers as a quitting aid, but not for non-smokers or young people, as concerns about nicotine addiction and gateway effects persist. Closing the perception gap could save millions of lives by encouraging more smokers to switch to vaping.
The managing director of BAT UK advocates for allowing strict advertising of vapes targeted at adults to help smokers switch, despite current UK restrictions and health concerns about youth vaping; she emphasizes regulation, education, and enforcement to support the UK's goal of a smoke-free generation by 2030.
A large study suggests that vaping increases the risk of prediabetes, especially when combined with traditional smoking, highlighting potential long-term health risks beyond lung issues.