How Does Vaping Affect the Body?

General Information:

Do not use THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products
Avoid using unofficial sources, such as friends, family or online dealers to obtain a vaping device
Do not modify or add any substances to a vaping device that are not intended by the manufacturer (ex. Adding extra chemicals from the black market)

Nicotine is an addictive, toxic substance, it raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and likelihood of having a heart attack
A n M.D., Michael J. Blaha states that, “Emerging data suggests links to chronic lung disease and asthma, and associations between dual use of e-cigarettes and smoking with cardiovascular disease. You’re exposing yourself to all kinds of chemicals we don’t yet understand and that are probably not safe.”
Nicotine could be as addictive as heroin and cocaine
Options such as extra-strength cartridges (higher concentration of nicotine) and a higher voltage (for a greater hit) only worsen the health defects that come with vaping
The FDA (Food Drugs Administration) has not yet approved e-cigarettes as “smoking cessation devices,” and research has found that usage of e-cigarettes only increases the dosages of nicotine consumed
Blaha also states, “It’s one thing if you convert from cigarette smoking to vaping. It’s quite another thing to start up nicotine use with vaping. And, it often leads to using traditional tobacco products down the road.”
This piece of information could give some credibility to our point of stopping the chain of substance abuse that is seen from numerous cases of study

With enough usage, vaping could lead to attention disorders such as ADHD, impulse control issues and addiction to harmful substances
When dosages of vape chemicals were given to mice, their sectors of memory, learning, focus, impulse control and overall development were halted
At the molecular level, nicotine mimics acetylcholine, an important chemical messenger in the brain, so nicotine is fooling brain cells in to receiving the harmful substance

It is also clear that nicotine drives dopamine levels in humans
One interesting finding by Frances Leslie (professor of pharmaceutical sciences at UCI) is that in young mice, a low-dosage of nicotine injected increased the appeal to alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs (this is another reason why we should stop the chain)
Flavorings in the vape juices only increased the dopamine levels in the brain as shown by researchers
An alarming thing is that the adolescent brain is more susceptible to pleasures than the adult brain

As children, we have all heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what if there was something out there that does the exact opposite?Something that deteriorates the lungs, and causes them to be inflamed beyond all measures?
What you see to the right is a set of healthy lungs compared to a set of lungs marred by the effects of vaping
In 2019, around 300 vape-users have developed severe lung disease in 22 states with symptoms ranging from shortness of breath to difficulty of breathing
Some studies have even shown that vaping can cause lung cancer and cardiovascular disease
Even with second-hand vaping, harmful substances such as lead, formaldehyde, and toluene enter your system
Some of the flavors such as diacetyl are shown to halt functions related to the cilia, important to keeping mucus and dirt out of airways, leading to further complications
People with pre-existing lung conditions, such as asthma, may have their symptoms triggered from second-hand vape chemicals

As Dr. Mahmoud Sharaf puts it: "Vaping is bad for your heart. The truth is people who vape are 56 percent more likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers and 30 percent more likely to suffer a stroke"
Both heart attacks and strokes damage the heart extensively and even puts the rest of your body at risk, and this is all on the condition that you even survive the whole ordeal
Now how exactly does vaping increase your chance of a heart attack or stroke? The answer lies within the actual blood flowing in and out of your heart, because vaping raises your blood pressure and heart rate in turn, which could lead to these heart attacks and strokes

Once you ingest the vapor from the vape pen, harmful chemicals and heavy metals are deposited into your blood stream
With your heart being vulnerable, several things could happen including:
- Cholesterol Deposits: These lead to blood clots which could then lead to strokes
- Arteriosclerosis: This means that the arteries will stiffen due to the acrolein, and all of this could lead to a heart attack
Dr. Sharaf inputs that: "Teens who are vaping now might be 18 and wouldn't otherwise have had heart issues," but that if they continue this bad habit, "their first heart problem might appear as early as their late 20s or early 30s"

Resources used: