So, you traded your cigarettes for a vape, believing that it’s far less harmful than smoking. But a disturbing new study reveals that vaping, even when nicotine-free, can negatively impact vascular function, increasing the risk of heart disease and circulatory issues.
Traditional cigarettes are loaded with thousands of harmful chemicals, including tar and cancer-causing agents. While vaping removes many of these toxic substances, the belief that zero-nicotine vapes are entirely safe is now under scrutiny.
A recent study suggests that even if you’ve never smoked, using a vape even one without nicotine may still pose unnecessary health risks.
Researchers analyzed the effects of nicotine-free vaping compared to regular vaping and traditional smoking.
But before we dive into the surprising findings, let’s first cover some essential facts about vaping.
What Is Vaping, Really?
Vaping involves the use of e-cigarettes battery-powered devices that heat a liquid to produce an aerosol (commonly called vapor) for users to inhale. Unlike traditional cigarettes that burn tobacco and release thousands of toxic chemicals, vapes don’t create smoke or tar. That’s why many believe vaping is a safer option but the reality is more complicated.
What’s in the Juice?
Vape juice, also known as e-liquid, typically contains propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin compounds responsible for the thick clouds exhaled. While these ingredients are safe in food, heating and inhaling them can create harmful byproducts. These can lead to:
- Persistent coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Lung inflammation
Flavor Comes at a Cost
The sweet, fruity, or minty flavors that attract many to vaping often contain toxic chemicals. For example:
- Diacetyl: Linked to a severe lung condition known as popcorn lung
- Benzaldehyde: A flavoring agent that can irritate the respiratory tract
- Heavy metals: Components in vape coils can release trace amounts of nickel, tin, and lead
Even without nicotine, repeated exposure to these substances can damage your lungs and airways.
“You’re exposing yourself to all kinds of chemicals that we don’t yet understand and that are probably not safe,” says Dr. Michael Blaha of Johns Hopkins Medicine.
A Growing Trend Among Youth
Vaping is especially popular among young people. According to Johns Hopkins, over 2 million U.S. middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in 2021 and more than 80% of them chose flavored products.
A Dangerous New Gateway
“What concerns me most about the rise of vaping,” says Dr. Michael Blaha, “is that it’s attracting people—especially young people—who might never have smoked in the first place.” He adds, “It’s one thing to switch from cigarettes to vaping. But it’s a whole different problem when vaping becomes someone’s first introduction to nicotine. That kind of exposure often leads to traditional tobacco use later on.”
Shocking New Findings
A 2024 study set out to answer a troubling question: Could the base liquids and flavoring chemicals in vapes be harmful, even without nicotine?
Researchers compared the impact of:
- Nicotine-free vapes
- Nicotine-containing vapes
- Traditional cigarettes
The results were eye-opening. All three caused measurable harm to blood vessel function proving that nicotine isn’t the only danger.
The study found that vascular function dropped the most after using nicotine vapes, followed by nicotine-free vapes both worse than expected.
“This study highlights how smoking and vaping can acutely damage multiple vascular systems in the body,” said lead researcher Dr. Marianna Nabbout. “And if a single vape session can impair blood vessels, it’s very likely that long-term use could lead to serious vascular disease.”
Think Vaping Is Harmless? Think Again.
If you’ve turned to vaping thinking it’s a safe alternative to smoking, these findings are a wake-up call.
What’s your take on vaping? Let us know and don’t forget to share this story to help spread awareness of the hidden risks.
