Vaping and Serious Illness: What You Need to Know

Vaping may seem common or even harmless, but it can seriously affect your health. It can damage your lungs, affect your brain, and make it harder for your body to stay healthy. This is especially true if you’re dealing with a serious illness or recovery.

What is vaping?

Vaping means breathing in a mist (called an aerosol) made by an electronic device such as a vape pen, pod device, or e-cigarette. Some devices look like pens or flash drives. The device heats a liquid, which usually has nicotine, flavoring, and other chemicals.

The aerosol that you breathe in can contain:

• Nicotine (an addictive drug)
• Flavorings chemicals linked to lung irritation or damage
• Tiny particles that can be inhaled into the lungs
• Heavy metals including nickel, tin, and lead
• THC (the chemical in marijuana that causes a “high” and can affect how your brain works)
• Other chemicals or drugs

Researchers are still learning about the long-term effects of vaping, but it is already known that the risks are real.

What is JUUL^® or "Juuling"?

JUUL^® is 1 type of vape device. JUUL pods can deliver high levels of nicotine, which can make addiction happen faster.

They also contain benzoic acid, which may cause: 

• Cough
• Sore throat 
• Stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting

Vaping affects your brain, lungs, heart, and other parts of your body. There is not enough research to know what other long-term health effects vaping might have.

Vaping effects on the brain

Nicotine, THC, and other chemicals in vapes can affect brain chemistry and how your brain works. This is especially true for teens and young adults.

• Brain development: Your brain keeps developing until around age 25. Nicotine can change how your brain forms connections (called synapses). These changes can affect your:
  • Learning and memory
  • Mood
  • Impulse control
• Addiction risk: Using nicotine can make you more likely to become addicted to other substances.
• Mood and mental health: Vaping can increase feelings of stress, restlessness, and irritability.
• Withdrawal: Nicotine is addictive, and the brain gets used to having it. When you stop, you may have withdrawal symptoms including cravings, mood changes, and trouble sleeping.

Vaping effects on the lungs

Vaping can:

• Make breathing harder
• Cause chest tightness or coughing
• Cause lung irritation or damage that may not fully heal
• Trigger or worsen asthma or chronic bronchitis
• Lead to sudden, serious lung injury in rare cases

Other health risks of vaping

Vaping is linked to:

• Anxiety and depression
• Higher blood pressure and heart strain
• Trouble sleeping
• Sexual dysfunction in males
• Coughing or shortness of breath
• Higher risk of smoking cigarettes or using other drugs later
• Potential harm to pregnant women and health risks for their unborn baby

If you have a serious illness (or are recovering)

When your body is already working hard to stay healthy or recover, vaping adds extra stress. It may:

• Slow down healing
• Make symptoms worse
• Increase the chance of lung problems or infections

Your body is dealing with enough. Vaping adds another challenge that makes it harder to be strong and healthy.

Myths and facts about vaping

How to stop vaping

Make a vaping quit plan and get support

Set a date to quit and plan ahead. If you want to quit, you don’t have to do it alone. You can talk to:

• Your care team (doctor, nurse, or clinic staff)
• A school counselor
• A health care provider in your community
• A tobacco cessation counselor (free consultation by phone, text, or chat)
  • Call the free 1-800-QUIT-NOW helpline to talk to a coach.
  • Sign up for free text messages at SmokefreeTXT.

Let your friends and family know your plan so they can support you. It’s OK to ask people not to vape around you. You may also have to take a break from certain people if they don’t respect your decision to quit.

Figure out what you’re getting from vaping

Understanding your triggers can help you quit.

If you vape to relax or relieve stress, try:

• Taking a walk or exercising
• Talking to a friend or trusted adult
• Deep breathing or relaxation techniques
• Meditation apps like Calm, Headspace, or InsightTimer

If you vape to fit in, plan what you want to say ahead of time:

• “I’m good—not today.”
• “I don’t vape.”
• “I’m trying to stay healthy.”
• “I’m taking care of my body right now.”
• “Please don’t offer—I’m serious about quitting.”

If you vape in certain situations or at certain times, you can also:

• Avoid situations where people vape or remind you of vaping
• Change up your routine
• Walk away or distract yourself
• Suggest a different activity

Manage vape cravings

Nicotine is addictive, and quitting vaping can cause physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. These symptoms will go away in time.

Plan ways to fight vape cravings. This may include getting support from friends and family, talking with a counselor, and making your health a priority.

Focus on healthy habits:

• Drink water to stay hydrated
• Eat a healthy diet
• Be active and exercise
• Get enough sleep
• Manage stress and anxiety

If quitting is a struggle or you have trouble managing nicotine withdrawal symptoms, ask a health care provider for help. They may recommend medicines or other tools or strategies to help you quit. Do not take any medicine without consulting a health care provider.

Quitting vaping is hard, and it can take more than one try. You may have to try several times before you quit vaping for good. But you can do it. Make a plan and use the tools and resources that are a good fit for you.

When to call your care team

Call right away if you vape and notice:

• Coughing a lot or trouble breathing
• Chest pain
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Fever
• Feeling extra tired (fatigue)
• Unexplained weight loss

These may be signs of lung injury.

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