The possible health risks of vaping

Smoking e-cigarettes, also commonly known as vaping, has become a popular alternative to smoking regular cigarettes. An e-cigarette, or Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS), is a battery-powered device that heats a liquid containing nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosolized vapor that’s inhaled.

Vaping exposes you to fewer toxic chemicals than traditional tobacco products and is much less likely to lead to heart disease and cancer. However, while e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, they do contain nicotine, the substance that makes cigarettes so addictive. It’s also a toxin that can raise your blood pressure, heart rate and adrenaline levels.

Furthermore, e-cigarettes contain other chemicals that are hazardous to your health. A recent study found that the vapor from e-cigarettes contains potentially unsafe levels of toxic metals like lead. What’s more, there’s a lot researchers still don’t know about the long-term health effects of vaping.

Medical professionals worry that e-cigarettes are getting people addicted to nicotine who otherwise wouldn’t consider smoking. Vaping has become particularly rampant among youth, whose adolescent brains are susceptible to the harmful effects of nicotine.

In 2015, the U.S. surgeon general reported that e-cigarette use among high school students had increased by 900 percent. Recent data shows that more than two million American middle and high school students have used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days.

If you’re considering using e-cigarettes to quit smoking, talk to your doctor first about the possible health risks.