What started as a hip substitute for cigarettes has quickly evolved into a public health crisis: vaping. Compact, high-tech, and typically flavored like cotton candy or mango ice, e-cigarettes have attained a large market, especially among teenagers. But while the packaging is sweet, the health consequences are proving to be bitter.
Vaping, or the inhalation of aerosolized substances from e-cigarettes, was initially billed as a safer option than conventional smoking. Though it’s true that e-cigarettes don’t include tobacco, they nonetheless dispense nicotine—the powerfully addictive stimulant present in cigarettes—along with a mixture of chemicals whose long-term consequences have yet to be fully described.
Lungs under fire:
A striking and direct consequence of vaping is observed in the respiratory system. Aerosol inhaled by users has propylene glycol, glycerin, flavoring compounds, and other chemicals that can trigger irritation and inflammation of lung tissues upon heating. Over the past few years, there has been a steep increase in cases of “vaping-associated lung injury,” officially referred to as EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping product use-associated Lung Injury), particularly among young people and young adults. As of February 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had identified a total of 2,807 cases of EVALI with hospitalization or death in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two United States territories. Sixty-eight deaths were confirmed in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Symptoms typically encompass shortness of breath, cough, pain in the chest, and even gastroenterological illness. EVALI may lead to death or hospitalization in critical situations.
Nicotine and Heart:
Despite the attraction of nicotine to humans, it also puts stress on the cardiovascular system at the same time. The drug increases blood pressure, heart rate, and the risk of cardiovascular disease. Although some vaping products have been marked “nicotine-free,” research has discovered that they have trace amounts of nicotine. In addition, repeated nicotine exposure can lead to arterial stiffening and constrict blood flow, thus increasing the risk of myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident. Teenagers, whose physiological and neurological systems are still under development, should especially take heed of these dangers. In fact, nicotine can impair neurodevelopment, thus negatively impacting memory, concentration, and impulse control.
Invisible risk of the ingredients:
Apart from nicotine, e-liquids in e-cigarettes may have heavy metals such as lead and tin, volatile organic compounds, and carcinogenic chemicals such as formaldehyde. They are not necessarily marked on the products, and users may find it hard to know the substances they are inhaling. Research published in Environmental Health Perspectives has demonstrated that e-liquid can have unsafe metals, including arsenic and lead, prior to any contact with the metallic coil. Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated the formation of toxic aldehydes, in particular formaldehyde, in the aerosol of e-cigarettes during vaping.
Addiction:
Among the most dangerous effects of vaping on physical health is its possibility of leading to addiction. High nicotine doses in a subdued manner from Geekbar and related products allow one to consume large amounts without notice. Experimentation can turn quickly into a condition of reliance. Quitting is not simple either. Typical withdrawal symptoms are irritation, anxiety, headaches, and strong cravings. Teenagers’ habits can result in drug use or smoking cigarettes, therefore adding to their physical load. “Once I decided to quit vaping, it was so hard,” said 19-year-old Alexander Mishin, a Russian citizen, where the legal age of smoking is 18. “You feel like your body demands something, and every single second this feeling becomes stronger and stronger.”
Vaping might seem something different, new, and harmless, but the truth is scary. You can destroy your lungs with vapes even faster than with cigarettes. Behind the bright box with a diversity of flavors, the danger is hidden– that it will harm your physical and mental health. You will become addicted to that little device with nicotine inside. But in The Village School, the possession and consuming tobacco and any other nicotine products is prohibited. Students are aware of the danger that is hidden inside those devices. All of the teenagers in the school have a healthy lifestyle and prefer sports over sports. In the end, no flavor or trend is worth trading your health for– your lungs don’t get a second chance.
Resources
Benowitz, Neal L., and Andrea D. Burbank. “Cardiovascular Toxicity of Nicotine: Implications for Electronic Cigarette Use.” Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine, vol. 26, no. 6, Aug. 2016, pp. 515–23, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcm.2016.03.001. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Broadfoot, Marla. “E-Cigarettes Expose Users to Toxic Metals such as Arsenic, Lead (Environmental Factor, February 2022).” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Feb. 2022, factor.niehs.nih.gov/2022/2/feature/3-feature-e-cigarettes-and-toxic-metals. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Health, CDC’s Office on Smoking and. “Smoking and Tobacco Use; Electronic Cigarettes.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 Aug. 2021, archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
