Here’s How Vaping Can Hurt Your Lungs
Vaping without nicotine poses dangers
In the study, published on Aug. 20, 31 nonsmoking participants between the ages of 18 and 35 vaped the equivalent to one conventional cigarette. The solution in the e-cigarette liquid contained propylene glycol, glycerol, and flavoring, but no nicotine.
Researchers conducted MRI exams before and after the vaping experiment to see how it affected the participants’ vascular systems.
“When blood flow to the brain is decreased, it can impact attention, focus, and the ability to learn, and that can have a variety of impacts on middle school and high school children.”
Overall, the results showed that e-cigarettes may pose a risk to vascular functions and the lining of blood vessels in young, healthy nonsmokers, even if the liquid they vape doesn’t contain nicotine.
“With long-term use of e-cigarettes, we worry it can lead to permanent vascular disease like atherosclerosis (a hardening of the blood vessels), which is typically associated with regular cigarette use,” said Dr. Humberto Choi, a pulmonologist and critical care specialist at Cleveland Clinic.
“We still need time to see if e-cigarette users will suffer from these long-term health problems, but this study is a possible indication that it can happen,” he added.