The truth about vaping: What you need to know about ‘healthy’ vapes
Since arriving on the scene over two decades ago, vaping has slowly but surely inhaled and exhaled its way to a ‘healthy’ image. It all started with its initial reputation as a tobacco replacement specifically created to help people quit smoking, and therefore curb rates of killer diseases like lung cancer. However, in recent years, the once-fringe habit has gone mainstream around the world – and brands are positioning it more enthusiastically than ever as a product for the wellness-conscious. But are the ‘healthy’ promises of vapes simply a load of flavoured air?
Now, while traditional cigarettes work via the lighting of tobacco – in order for nicotine to send feel-good signals to the brain – these ‘e-cigarettes’ do away with the tobacco entirely. Instead, a liquid, containing ingredients like nicotine and a flavouring agent, is heated in order to form an aerosol that is then breathed in. According to TIME, the idea is that because the nicotine is delivered without tar or other unpleasant by-products, it is able to satisfy cravings in a ‘healthier’ way. There’s no doubt that it has caught on, with an estimated 82 million vapers now around the world.
However, as the wellness space has become ever more lucrative, the evolution of vaping has also seen companies seek to appeal to more health-conscious populations by ditching the nicotine and focusing on enticing flavours as well as other buzzy components. Brands pushing these so-called ‘wellness vapes’ will often use phrases like ‘natural ingredients’, ‘healthier alternative’ and ‘designed to relax’ in their marketing. For example, Lio, describes itself as ‘chemical-free’. Meanwhile, HealthVape states that it contains ingredients like vitamins, melatonin and collagen in its vapour.
While this might sound like a step in the right direction, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has called out the ‘unproven’ claims of so-called ‘nutritional supplement diffusers’ – which include perks like better focus and improved sleep – and they warned about side effects like severe coughing and airway tightening as well as speaking and breathing difficulties. Indeed, one study found no benefit to inhaling vitamin B12 over other kinds of supplementation. What’s more, The Conversation reports of a lack of safety testing for inhaling ingredients – even if they have the green light for consumption in other ways. Take, for instance, the research linking vitamin E to the lung damage in 60 deaths in the US in 2019 linked to vapes – a condition properly known as e-cigarette-related acute lung injury (Evali).
However, while these ‘healthy’ vapes may be a growing category, the effects of regular vapes – long considered a better alternative, as previously mentioned – are likewise causing fear. For example, there were reports of a surge in ER visits in Virginia, US between 2020 and 2024 for vaping-related issues. Many official global health organisations now caution against it – including the CDC in the US who warn that it can become just as ‘addictive’ to smoking due to the nicotine present. Meanwhile, the UK’s NHS acknowledges that while it is less harmful than puffing on a cigarette, it is not completely harmless and we don’t yet know what the long-term effects may be. Although, worrying findings are coming to light – with evidence already of its negative impact on cardiovascular health.
As per the BBC report, while the shorter term side effects of vaping can include things like coughing, dizziness, sore throats and headaches, still-unknown longer term health impacts are likely to become apparent in coming decades. This is when we’re likely to see the full repercussions on younger age groups, among whom vaping is particularly popular. The proportion of 16-to-24-year-old users in the UK rose from 17% to 26.5% between 2022 and 2024, while WIRED reports that in the UAE and Saudi Arabia as many as 23% and 27.7% of university students respectively are vaping. This is worrying doctors because one recent study revealed that it damages young lungs as much as smoking, and the British Medical Association has suggested vapes should be sold behind-the-counter like cigarettes to curb what they describe as an ‘epidemic’.
Countries around the world are taking steps to regulate this space. This includes the Supreme Court in the US who in April backed the FDA’s refusal to authorise the sale of flavoured vapes popular with younger age groups. Similarly, the UK is set to ban disposable vapes for environmental reasons from June, although it is hoped this will also encourage some users to give up rather than switch to refillable and rechargeable options. Several EU countries have likewise shared their desire for vapes to be included in the bloc’s upcoming tobacco tax law.
So, if you are wanting to gradually wean yourself off vapes as a method to chill out, there are many science-backed alternatives to try – such as breathwork, cold water therapy and herbal teas. If you’re not a fan of regular capsule supplements to top up on your vitamins, then chewable formulations are a great option or oral sprays have been shown to be effective – unlike ‘wellness vapes’ – for delivering key nutrients into the bloodstream. Finally, the NHS recommends that those wanting to quit should expect withdrawals – such as feeling irritable and having difficulty sleeping. They also advise lowering your consumption gradually, rather than going ‘cold turkey’ and to try and keep your hands busy with other activities as you wean yourself of the habit. As always, if you are unsure or struggling, it’s best to speak to a healthcare professional.
