Is vaping safer than smoking? What you need to know
Even though a causal link between vaping and lung cancer hasn’t been shown, there is plenty we do know about vaping’s immense dangers.
Understanding the health risks of vaping
You may start vaping because you think it’s safer than smoking cigarettes — but is it?
As of now, researchers don’t have a clear answer to that question. We also don’t yet know if there’s a causal link between vaping and lung cancer.
“With smoking, we have 100-plus years of data, but we just don’t have that level of data yet with vaping,” says Autumn Carstens, MEd, tobacco treatment specialist at UI Health Care.
But we do know this: Whether or not vaping is better than smoking cigarettes, vaping is not safe. It’s not good for your health—full stop.
What else do we know about vaping?
Vaping is highly addictive
“Vaping is highly, highly addictive, and it is even more addictive than cigarettes in some situations,” Carstens says.
One vape pod can have the same amount of nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. And sometimes, people go through two or three pods in a day. That’s a very high level of nicotine that can be not only addictive but toxic.
Vaping damages the lungs quickly
Despite its name, vaping does not produce vapor.
“That’s a common misconception,” Carstens says.
Instead, vaping creates an aerosol made up of small particles that can deeply penetrate your lungs, leading to lung burns and a lung injury called EVALI (which stands for e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury).
“With vaping, we tend to see more lung damage right away. With smoking, we tend to see longer-term issues,” Carstens says.
Vaping increases your risk for illness
Vaping weakens the immune system. People who vape are at a greater risk for health problems, in general, even if there’s not yet a definitive link between vaping and lung cancer.
“We know that vaping damages cells, and we know that damaged cells are at an increased risk for mutations and cancer development,” Carstens says.
Modifiable vaping devices are especially harmful
With modifiable vaping devices, also known as mods, the heating elements can be altered so that they burn at a hotter temperature, which increases the risk of burning the lungs.
“There are lots of different types of vaping devices—what we call electronic nicotine delivery systems,” Carstens says. “The ones that have been the most harmful as far as nicotine delivery are the ones that are modifiable.”
Vape ingredients aren’t always clear
Vape devices might advertise having certain levels of nicotine or not having any nicotine at all. But the harsh reality is that vapes are not as regulated as cigarettes.
“We honestly don’t know what is in a vape, and that’s a great risk,” Carstens says. “It’s an even greater risk with mods.”
Vaping is not a proven way to quit smoking
You may wonder if you can use vapes to try to quit cigarettes. The problem isn’t just that vapes are highly addictive and harmful. They also don’t provide you with the same experience as cigarettes.
As a result, people often end up going back to cigarettes. Or, worse, they smoke cigarettes and vape.
“Vaping is not a safe option for quitting cigarettes,” Carstens says.
How to quit vaping with expert help
Vaping may seem like a safer alternative, but the facts tell a different story. The risks are real, and the addiction is powerful. If you’re ready to stop, you don’t have to do it alone. With expert support and proven strategies, you can take back control of your health—starting today.