What is Vaping?
Vaping products (also know as e-cigarettes, vapes, juuls, mods, etc.) are electronic nicotine delivery devices that heat a liquid solution to produce a vapour. The aerosol is inhaled through a mouthpiece and is then absorbed into the bloodstream.
Vaping products are available in many different forms. Some are designed to look like cigarettes, some are the size of a USB or pen, and others are much larger and may be modifiable. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance. Click here to learn more about nicotine addiction.
Most e-cigarettes also contain a wide range of flavourings and chemicals. Chemicals in vaping e-liquids can also react when heated and form new chemicals. There is still a lot we don’t know about how these chemicals could impact your health.
What Are the Health Risks of Vaping?
Vaping products share many of the same risks as tobacco products and also have their own distinct risks. From what is known so far, vaping can damage the respiratory, cardiovascular, and immune systems and lead to increased risk of chronic pulmonary disorders, stroke, and heart attack. Some people have also experienced acute (immediate) lung injuries from vaping.
Click here for a downloadable fact sheet on the health risks of vaping.
Dual Smoking and Vaping
Using both cigarettes and vaping products at the same time can increase the negative health consequences compared to using either product alone. Research has found that vaping increases the risk of developing chronic pulmonary diseases including asthma and emphysema by 30%, and dual use triples this risk. Dual use also increases your risk of stroke compared to use only cigarettes or only e-cigarettes.