As brightly coloured vapes (e-cigarettes) flood social media feeds and college campuses, health experts are warning that these are far from the harmless trend they are often portrayed to be.
Marketed as a safer and more modern alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, vaping — the act of smoking e-cigarettes — has rapidly gained popularity among youngsters, but doctors say its risks are real and alarming. Medical experts caution that the aerosol released from vapes is not just water vapour, as many users believe.
Instead, it contains nicotine, toxic chemicals, heavy metals such as lead and nickel, and cancer-causing compounds such as formaldehyde. These substances can seriously damage lung tissue, and other organs over time.
Doctors say one of the biggest concerns is nicotine addiction. Many vaping products contain nicotine levels equal to or even higher than traditional cigarettes, making these highly addictive, especially for teenagers and young adults.
Health professionals warn that nicotine exposure during adolescence can interfere with brain development, and increase the risk of long-term dependence. Experts also dismiss the myth that passive vaping is harmless. According to health specialists, people exposed to second-hand vape aerosol may suffer respiratory problems, including coughing, shortness of breath, and bronchitis-like symptoms.
Another growing concern among doctors is e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI), a potentially fatal inflammatory lung disease linked to vaping.
The condition has been associated with harmful additives such as vitamin E acetate, commonly found in certain vape products. Symptoms include severe breathlessness, chest pain, fever, fatigue, vomiting and abdominal pain, often resembling pneumonia.
Doctors say patients suffering from EVALI frequently require hospitalisation, oxygen support, and steroid treatment. Since symptoms mimic other respiratory illnesses, diagnosis often involves chest X-rays, CT scans, and blood tests to rule out infections.
Health experts warn that vaping may worsen chronic illnesses such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, and heart disease.
Research also suggests that many users end up becoming “dual users”, continuing to smoke cigarettes alongside vaping, instead of quitting tobacco altogether.
While debates continue over vaping as a smoking cessation tool, the safest choice remains clear: People who do not smoke should never start vaping, and those trying to quit tobacco should rely on medically approved cessation methods instead of turning to e-cigarettes.
