As a replacement for smoking or to help with quitting smoking, vaping is a popular trend with young people. The tobacco companies have targeted their marketing at youth with fun flavours and brightly coloured e-cigarettes, but they also use misleading and deceptive advertising to lure people in.
While the health effects are still unclear, there is some evidence that vaping can have some negative effects on the lungs and other parts of the body. The delta 8 vape pen from an e-cigarette contains chemicals that can harm the lungs, including nicotine which is known to cause addiction. It can also irritate the lungs, increase coughing and wheezing, cause a phlegm build-up and reduce lung function, and may contribute to other respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD.
Nicotine exposure in adolescence can affect the brain’s development, and has been linked to ADHD symptoms, depression and feelings of stress. It can also cause or worsen heart problems. It can also cause bronchitis, aggravation of existing asthma and changes in the cells that line the blood vessels. It can even lead to popcorn lung – an extremely painful, potentially life-threatening condition caused by small air bubbles that burst in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
There are many types of e-cigarettes, but most contain nicotine and other chemicals that can be harmful. They have a battery that heats the liquid in order to create vapor, which the user inhales through a mouthpiece or tank. Some e-cigarettes are discreet pod or pen devices, which have a disposable e-liquid cartridge and a small, rechargeable battery. Others are more complex tanks that can hold a larger amount of liquid and are able to produce bigger clouds. The e-liquid is usually made of a mixture of flavourings, additives and nicotine (if used), dissolved in an oily liquid base.
Some of the harmful chemicals that are found in e-liquids include diacetyl, which can permanently injure the lungs; cancer-causing agents; heavy metals; and volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde, which irritates the eyes, nose, throat, skin and lungs and can damage organs over time. Other dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping include explosions from batteries; burns from the hot vapor; and inhaling ultrafine vapor particles, which can irritate the lungs and make breathing more difficult.
The long-term effects of smoking and vaping aren’t fully understood, but there is some evidence that e-cigarettes have less harmful chemicals than cigarettes. There are also reports of people becoming dependent on nicotine. Smoking has been linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes lung cancer and other serious respiratory conditions.