The connection between cigarette smoking and lung cancer is well known, but what about vaping? Many people turn to vaping as an alternative to help them quit smoking. Vaping refers to the use of electronic smoking devices called electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or vape pens. While e-cigarette use is generally considered to be safer than traditional cigarettes made with tobacco, vaping still comes with health risks.

E-cigarettes haven’t been around for that long, so there’s still a lot we don’t know about the long-term effects of vaping. In this article, we’ll go over the potentially harmful effects of vaping and how they may relate to lung cancer. Your doctor can give you additional information about vaping and how to avoid health complications.

Vaping vs. Smoking

Why is vaping considered a less unhealthy alternative to cigarette smoking? Traditional cigarettes are made with tobacco and contain dozens of carcinogens, or cancer-causing chemicals. Cigarettes are burned so tobacco smoke can be inhaled, and this increases the chance of getting lung cancer. Even exposure to secondhand smoke from someone else using cigarettes can lead to an increased risk of cancer.

E-cigarettes, on the other hand, don’t create smoke. Instead, they make something similar to steam called an aerosol or vapor. The aerosol is created when the e-cigarette heats a liquid (e-liquid) containing different substances. The e-liquid doesn’t contain tobacco, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still considers e-cigarettes to be tobacco products. This is because e-cigarettes — like regular cigarettes — usually contain the chemical nicotine, which comes from tobacco.

What’s in an E-Cigarette?

In addition to nicotine, e-cigarettes contain many other ingredients. These can include:

• Ultrafine particles
• Chemicals that provide flavor
• Lead and other heavy metals
• Toxic gases

The same chemicals aren’t necessarily found in all e-cigarettes. For example, some e-cigarettes can contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an ingredient found in marijuana. However, the FDA does not require vaping products to list their ingredients. This makes it hard to know exactly what you could be exposed to by vaping.

E-cigarettes can also contain known carcinogens such as formaldehyde. If the e-liquid level is too low or gets too hot, formaldehyde can form in the aerosol and be inhaled. This, along with other ingredients found in e-cigarettes, ​​raises worries about potential health issues later on.

Risks of Vaping

Because vaping products haven’t been available for that long, researchers still don’t know all the health risks. The major risks known so far are:

• Addiction and nicotine overdose
• Brain development in young people
• Popcorn lung
• Holes in the lungs

Addiction and Nicotine Overdose

We already know that nicotine is a highly addictive substance. This means that you can get addicted to e-cigarettes that contain nicotine, just like traditional cigarettes. Many people continue to smoke regular cigarettes while also using e-cigarettes. This is dangerous because vaping and smoking at the same time can lead to serious health problems from nicotine poisoning. Nicotine overdose can be a medical emergency and may even be fatal.

Brain Development in Young People

Nicotine can also be particularly dangerous for certain people. If children and adolescents are exposed to nicotine, it can have negative effects on brain development. Additionally, nicotine can harm fetuses during development. For these reasons, e-cigarettes should never be used by teens, young adults, or pregnant people.

Popcorn Lung

Some of the other ingredients found in e-cigarettes have also been linked to health problems, specifically lung injury. Diacetyl — a type of flavoring chemical — may lead to a lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans. This condition — also known as popcorn lung — can damage the airways, making it difficult for air to pass through the lungs. Ultrafine particles can also be inhaled into the lungs by vaping. These tiny particles can get stuck deep inside the lungs, potentially causing tissue damage, breathing problems, or even a heart attack.

Holes in the Lungs

E-liquid may contain oily chemicals, and if these are inhaled, vaping could lead to the buildup of fat in the lungs. In some cases, vaping may even cause injuries that lead to the formation of holes in the lungs. This causes a more serious health complication known as a collapsed lung. While invasive treatment isn’t always necessary for a collapsed lung, some people may need surgery to repair damage to their lungs.

Does Vaping Raise the Risk for Lung Cancer?

Because the ingredients in e-cigarettes have been linked to cancer and lung damage, there’s a concern that vaping may cause lung cancer. While this may be possible, it’s too soon to tell if there’s a connection. The link between tobacco smoke and lung cancer has been studied over several decades. E-cigarettes, on the other hand, haven’t been around for nearly as long — it’ll be another several years before we know if there’s a connection between vaping and lung cancer.

Right now, there isn’t clear proof that vaping causes cancer, but that doesn’t mean e-cigarettes are completely safe. People who vape might experience dry mouth, get headaches, cough, or feel sick. Breathing in harmful substances from vaping can cause permanent damage to your lungs and lead to serious lung issues. But we don’t know how vaping might affect someone’s health over many years.

Take Steps To Protect Your Health

E-cigarettes can contain several harmful chemicals that can cause significant damage to your lungs. We also know that it can take many years for lung damage to lead to lung cancer. For example, people who used to smoke still have an increased risk of lung cancer even years after they quit. If the same is true for vaping, you’ll want to quit as soon as you can — or avoid it completely — to prevent future health problems.

While some things may be out of your control, you may be able to improve your outcome by avoiding tobacco products. If you currently smoke cigarettes or vape and want to quit, reach out to your health care provider for support. They can provide resources that can help you fight nicotine addiction and stop using tobacco products. Although the future may be uncertain, choosing to avoid vaping and smoking may prevent further complications from lung cancer and can help you live a longer, healthier life.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyLungCancerTeam is the social support network for people with lung cancer and their loved ones. On MyLungCancerTeam, more than 12,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand.

Do you have more questions about the relationship between vaping and lung cancer? Share your insights in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.