Impact upon health transition from smoking to vaping

The impact of switching from smoking to vaping.

Vaping, a popular alternative to traditional smoking, involves the use of electronic cigarettes to deliver nicotine and other chemicals in the form of vapor. While it is often marketed as a healthier alternative, the long-term effects of vaping on the body are still a subject of ongoing research.

In the short term, vaping can offer some immediate benefits. For instance, within 20 minutes of vaping, the pulse rate starts to return to normal. After 48 hours, carbon monoxide has completely left the body, and the lungs are clearing out mucus. Senses of taste and smell are beginning to return to normal. However, it's important to note that limited investigations into vaping's effects on the lungs have taken place, and more research is necessary.

Breathing becomes easier as the bronchial tubes in the lungs relax after 72 hours, and energy levels may also increase. Circulation will usually improve within 2-12 weeks, and lung function may improve up to 10% within nine months of stopping vaping, although the lungs may heal quicker without any exposure to inhaled chemicals.

However, the long-term effects of vaping on the body can be significant. Chronic lung inflammation and impaired lung function, increased risk of chronic lung diseases like asthma or chronic bronchitis, heart problems such as heart failure and hypertension, and dental issues including gum disease and tooth loss are among the potential risks. Vaping can also cause a serious inflammatory lung injury called EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury), which can be severe or even fatal in rare cases.

Moreover, vaping exposes users and bystanders to harmful chemicals and metals, posing risks through secondhand and thirdhand exposure. There are also concerns about mental health effects and ongoing addiction due to high doses of nicotine or THC delivered rapidly by vaping devices.

As a smoking cessation tool, vaping shows promise, but its safety profile is less established than traditional cessation methods. A 2025 clinical trial found that nicotine vapes were more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) like gum or lozenges in helping socially disadvantaged smokers quit. However, the long-term health consequences of vaping are still not fully understood, and there is a possibility that some who quit smoking via vaping may later need help to quit vaping itself.

While quitting smoking through approved treatments such as NRT gum or patches can help support the lungs' healing process, it's crucial to remember that vaping contains chemicals such as aldehydes (including acetaldehyde and formaldehyde), acrolein, diacetyl, and benzene, which can potentially harm the lungs, weaken the immune system, and affect brain development in younger users.

In summary, while vaping can offer immediate benefits as a smoking cessation tool, its long-term health risks—especially to lungs, heart, and oral health—are significant. It's essential to approach vaping with caution and seek medical guidance for quitting both smoking and vaping. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved vaping as an effective smoking cessation treatment.

[1] Reference for mental health effects and ongoing addiction [2] Reference for clinical trial comparing vaping and NRT [3] Reference for EVALI [4] Reference for potential as a cessation aid [5] Reference for long-term health consequences of vaping