You may have ditched cigarettes in favor of vaping, assuming it's a much safer option—especially if you're using a nicotine-free vape. But new research suggests that even vaping without nicotine can harm your vascular system and increase the risk of heart disease and circulation problems.
A Closer Look at the Assumptions Around Vaping
Traditional cigarettes are packed with thousands of harmful chemicals, including tar and carcinogens. While vaping does eliminate many of these, the belief that nicotine-free e-cigarettes are harmless is now being seriously questioned.
In fact, a recent study reveals that even if you’ve never smoked before, using a nicotine-free vape may still expose your body to unnecessary risks.
Researchers set out to compare the effects of nicotine-free vaping, nicotine vaping, and traditional smoking—and the results were eye-opening.
What Is Vaping, Really?
Vaping involves the use of e-cigarettes—battery-powered devices that heat a liquid into an aerosol (or vapor) for inhalation. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco and produce smoke filled with toxins, vapes don’t generate tar or smoke. This has led many to believe they're a safer choice.
The liquid used in vapes (often called e-liquid or vape juice) typically contains propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, ingredients commonly found in food. But inhaling these substances, especially when heated, can produce harmful byproducts. These can irritate the lungs and airways and may contribute to:
- Chronic cough
- Breathing difficulties
- Lung inflammation
The Hidden Dangers in Vape Flavors
The wide range of sweet, minty, or fruity flavors is a big reason vaping has become so popular—especially among teens. However, these flavors often include harmful chemicals, such as:
- Diacetyl: Associated with "popcorn lung," a serious and irreversible lung disease
- Benzaldehyde: A flavoring agent that can irritate the respiratory tract
- Heavy metals: Vape coils can leach metals like lead, nickel, and tin into the vapor
Even without nicotine, prolonged exposure to these substances can result in lasting lung damage.
“You’re exposing yourself to all kinds of chemicals that we don’t yet understand and that are probably not safe,” warned Dr. Michael Blaha in an interview with Johns Hopkins Medicine.
A Trend on the Rise
Vaping continues to gain traction, especially among younger demographics. According to Johns Hopkins, more than 2 million middle and high school students in the U.S. reported using e-cigarettes in 2021—and over 80% of them used flavored versions.
“What concerns me most is seeing people who likely would never have smoked pick up vaping instead,” Dr. Blaha noted. “Switching from cigarettes to vaping is one thing. But starting with vaping—particularly flavored or nicotine vapes—can lead to long-term addiction and even a return to traditional tobacco use.”
New Study, Alarming Results
Researchers in a 2024 study investigated whether the base ingredients and flavor additives in vape liquids could harm health—regardless of nicotine content.
They tested three groups:
- Users of nicotine-free vapes
- Users of nicotine vapes
- Smokers of traditional cigarettes
Shockingly, all three groups showed a decline in blood vessel function—demonstrating that the health risks of vaping are not limited to nicotine.
The study found that “vascular function decreased most significantly after using nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, followed by nicotine-free e-cigarettes.”
Dr. Marianna Nabbout, one of the study’s lead researchers, emphasized the implications: “This study highlights the immediate impact that both smoking and vaping can have on blood vessels throughout the body.”
She added, “If vaping can affect vascular function so quickly, it’s not hard to imagine the damage chronic use might cause over time.”
Rethinking Your Vape?
If you switched to vaping under the impression that it was a safer choice, especially without nicotine, this new research should prompt a serious rethink.
What do you think about these findings? Share your thoughts—and don’t forget to pass this article along so others can understand the potential health risks of vaping, even without nicotine.
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