Resources
This research page is dedicated to exploring the effects vaping. Vaping has become a prevalent trend in recent years. The below research information provides resources on how vaping effects your physical health and mental health. We also provide some quick Quit Tips that you can utilize on your journey to becoming vape free.
Physical Health Effects
Vaping, as new as a trend as it is, has already been showing how it can negatively harm your body. It can damage the lungs, heart, and blood vessels. It can also harm your respiratory system, increase your heart rate, and increase your blood pressure.
Respiratory System
Vaping involves heating a substance made of many materials and inhaling the vapor that heating generates. This can become harmful to your lungs because it is unclear what exactly is in all of the vape liquid.
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These juices can then cause bronchiolitis obliterans, aka "Popcorn lung". This condition results from damage to the lungs' airways making breathing difficult. This is especially true because is can cause symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
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Overall vaping negatively impacts your lungs making you at higher risk of pneumonia, pneumothorax, and lung cancer.
Brain Development
Many people who vape are surprised to hear that vaping can affect the development of their brains. Nicotine is harmful for brains that are still developing. Its use during adolescence can interrupt the formation of brain neurons that control learning, attention, and susceptibility to addiction.
This means that when you start vaping at a young age you are at a higher risk of becoming an adult with vaping or smoking addictions. You are more likely to become and life long nicotine user.
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Nicotine levels also impact your brain receptors and apply to this issue. The amount of nicotine in each vape is different, but even vapes with no nicotine still contain chemicals that can harm your body and/or mind. If you're under 25, these toxins can have even more impact on your brain development than they would for someone older.
Impacts on your daily activites
Vaping negatively affects your stamina and energy as well as raises your risk of injury. This is because vaping negatively affects your body by restricting the arteries and oxygen levels in your blood.
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Vaping also can impact your sleep, weaken your immune system and damage your blood vessels.
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Vapes contain enough nicotine to reflect a whole pack of cigarettes meaning that you also become a higher risk of developing a long-term addiction.
Mental Health
Vaping can affect your mental health in many ways. Since vaping can impact your physical body, sleep, and brain development it can also increase symptoms of mental health.
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This is especially true in that current vape users have double the odds of having a diagnosis of depression compared to those who have never vaped.
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Vaping worsens the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Nicotine use is also significantly associated with higher levels of conditions like ADHD
Quit Tips
Getting motivated to quit vaping is hard. Some find that having a powerful reason or goal is helpful!
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It could be to improve your health through lung functions and lowering your risk of heart disease. It could be to protect your family from the effects nicotine addiction or to save money.
When you go without vaping, the nicotine level in your bloodstream drops, which may cause unpleasant feelings, physical symptoms, and strong urges to vape.
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When getting withdrawals you can build a toolkit to combat them. Some things to include are:
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Exercise
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Find a healthy distraction
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Lean on your support system of friends and families
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Celebrate your accomplishment of choosing to quit
When trying to quit one of the hardest parts is combating triggers and cravings.
Here are some ways that can help:
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Distracting yourself keeps your mind occupied and the triggers at bay. For example you can go snowboarding or skiing
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Limiting social media can help you avoid seeing people vaping online
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Getting plenty of rest, eating balanced meals, and taking time out of your day to exercise can help combat the cravings
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Asking for help and visiting vapingsucks.org for more information can help you quit
If you're thinking about quitting vaping, we have some tips for you:
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First, replace the habit of vaping with something else. Physical activity is a great option—when you feel like vaping, go for a hike, do some yoga, or work out in whatever way makes you feel best!
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Replacing the habit will help distract you from the cravings you can get when quitting. Try getting outside or maybe hanging out with friends!
More Resources
Just looking to quit and not sure how yet? This program really helps you go at your own pace. From self-guided information and activities to coaches available on demand. This is a great place to start.
If there’s strength in numbers then this is the spot. Over 300,000 people have used these services on their way to quitting vaping. And it’s all done via texting, anonymously.
Maybe you just need a way to connect with other people. To be understood. To find better ways to cope with a stressful life. This is the place.
Summit County Care Clinic
If you’re more interested in in-person care, this is the place. They can help you with quitting vaping or any other number of mental and physical health concerns you might be having. And they are located right in your school.
Want to get involved with other youth who are interested in helping their community stay tobacco free? This is the place and you’re always welcome.
The Real Cost is created by the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. The Real Cost gives teens what they need to know about tobacco use and vaping-real facts so they can make their own decision.
Smokefree Teen Provides helpful strategies for tackling cravings, bad moods, and other situations where adolescents may smoke.
This toolkit is a theory based and evidence informed educational resource aimed at preventing middle and high school students use of tobacco.