E-Cigarettes and Asthma: Health Effects of Vaping and Asthma

E-cigarettes have been sold in the United States since the early 2000s. Vape shops popped up in cities and towns across the country. Today, about 11.8 million U.S. adults (4.5%) report they use e-cigarettes, with rates highest among adults who are 18-24 years of age. E-cigarette use among adolescents and teenagers began to skyrocket in the 2010s. It is estimated about 1.6 million middle school and high school students use e-cigarettes.
Is it safe to vape if you have asthma? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that vaping of any kind can cause or contribute to lung disease. Most vaping devices contain potentially toxic substances including chemicals, metals and volatile organic compounds, some of which are linked to causing asthma and cell damage.
E-cigarettes are often marketed as a safer alternative to tobacco cigarettes. This is false. E-cigarettes may not contain tar, carbon monoxide or harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke. But they still contain many chemicals that, when inhaled, can be harmful to your breathing.
E-cigarettes are also marketed as a way to help people quit smoking. While there is some evidence that vaping can help some adults reduce the desire to smoke cigarettes, it is not considered an effective way to quit smoking. For adolescents and teens, e-cigarettes may be a gateway drug to tobacco cigarettes.
More research is needed on the health impact of e-cigarettes. However there is plenty of evidence that they can trigger or worsen asthma symptoms.
What is vaping?
Vaping is the inhaling and exhaling of a vapor produced by electronic cigarettes (“e-cigarettes”) or a similar device. People often call them “vapes.” They are smokeless and battery-operated devices.

Some e-cigarette devices resemble tobacco cigarettes. Others look like pens, hookah tips, computer memory sticks or thumb drives, and screwdrivers. They come in a variety of designs. The devices have cartridges that are refillable with vaping liquid. When heated inside the e-cigarette, the liquid becomes an aerosol that is inhaled into the lungs. The liquid contains chemicals that, when inhaled, can lead to or worsen lung disease including asthma.
The liquid put inside the e-cigarette device also contains flavorings. Flavorings may include berry, cool mint, menthol, coffee or candy. (More than 7,700 are available.) These flavors often appeal to young people, including middle and high school students.
Vaping delivers high levels of nicotine – higher than tobacco cigarettes. Nicotine is a drug that acts as a stimulant. It is highly addictive and can cause changes in brain chemistry. Young people and those who are inexperienced at vaping may be at risk for nicotine poisoning. Symptoms of nicotine poisoning include nausea, vomiting and high blood pressure.
Any product in which people inhale drugs or chemicals should be a red flag for anyone who has asthma.

Is there a link between e-cigarettes and asthma?
Arecent study found that people who vape are at increased risk of asthma symptoms such as cough, wheeze, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Certain chemicals in e-cigarettes have been linked to asthma symptoms.
Vaping also puts people at greater risk for developing a chronic lung disease. This includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which involves emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Is vaping bad if you have asthma?
It is well-documented that smoking tobacco is bad for people with asthma. What about e-cigarettes? These devices also contain harmful chemicals that can irritate the airways and trigger asthma symptoms. Many vape solutions have around 80 different chemicals.
Research shows that vaping with asthma causes asthma symptoms. Vaping can:
- increase inflammation in the airways
- worsen lung function
- harm or weaken your immune system
- put you at risk for other lung diseases
Two chemicals commonly found in e-cigarette products are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. These additives are used to carry nicotine and flavorings. They help generate the vapor when heated in the device. When inhaled, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin can irritate the airways. If these chemicals get into the lungs, it can lead to pneumonia.
Some other chemicals in vapes are deemed to be carcinogens, meaning they can cause cancer. One is formaldehyde. It is known to irritate the eyes and the throat. Formaldehyde has also been associated with triggering asthma symptoms.
Some other ingredients found in e-cigarettes include:
- Acrolein: a compound made when glycerin is heated up by the coils of the e-cigarette. It can irritate the respiratory tract.
- Benzene: a colorless, sweet-smelling organic compound that can irritate the lungs (it’s found in car exhaust).
- Diacetyl: a food additive in some vaping liquids. It has a rich, buttery flavor. Diacetyl has been linked to popcorn lung and bronchiolitis.
- Lead, nickel, tin or other heavy metals: these help heat the vaping liquid. Small amounts can be aerosolized and inhaled.
If you have asthma, there is no reason to put your lungs in danger from these chemicals and compounds.
How does vaping trigger asthma?
When you inhale the vaping aerosol, it triggers asthma symptoms by causing irritation and inflammation in the airways. This can cause asthma symptoms that lead to an asthma attack. Vaping can also dry out the nasal passages and throat, which can trigger asthma.
E-cigarette smoking and vaping can weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of viral infections. Viral infections are common asthma triggers.
Do e-cigarettes cause breathing problems?
Science continues to emerge about the role of e-cigarettes on lung health. What is known is not good. E-cigarettes can cause breathing problems. They increase airway inflammation and worsen lung function. They weaken the immune system response to allergens and viral infections.
Long-term vaping or chronic use of e-cigarettes may also result in scarring in the lungs and airways.
Should I quit vaping if I have asthma?
If you have asthma and you use e-cigarettes, your doctor will urge you to stop vaping. Every inhalation of vapor can irritate your lungs and cause airway inflammation. If you continue to vape, you put yourself at risk of worsening asthma symptoms leading to an asthma attack.
Will my lungs heal if I stop vaping?
Research shows that lungs start to heal about two weeks after a person stops vaping. Some may see improved lung function soon. However, it could take up to a year for the lungs to fully heal.
How much the lungs heal may depend on how long you have vaped and how much damage has been done to your lungs.

Tips to quit vaping or using e-cigarettes
E-cigarette products have high nicotine levels. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance. It enters your bloodstream and like many drugs it can lead to dependence. Quitting is the best way to avoid the short- and long-term health effects of using vape products. Of course, that is often easier said than done. Some people may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, insomnia difficulty concentrating, and cravings when trying to quit.
The following tips from the CDC can help you quit vaping and decrease your cravings to vape:
- Make a plan to quit.
- Talk to your healthcare provider. Ask for a prescription to a medication that may help with nicotine withdrawal.
- Consider counseling on your addiction. This can increase your chances of quitting for good.
- Learn how to manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
- Need help to quit smoking? Call the CDC’s helpline (800-QUIT-NOW) or get support through a texting service (Text QUITNOW to 333888).
You can also use online resources such as:
- CDC.gov/Quit
- Smokefree.gov
- Smokefree Teen
- Smokefree en español
- Download the quitSTARTapp to your mobile device for tailored tips and inspiration
If you’re struggling with nicotine or e-cigarette addiction, talk with a healthcare professional. Nicotine replacement therapy may help. This involves using nicotine gum, patches and other therapies that are available over the counter and by prescription. These products work by decreasing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Questions & Answers (Q&As) on Vaping and Asthma
Here are some common questions and answers about vaping and/or e-cigarettes for people with asthma. Please email our editor if you have more questions or topics that you would like to see addressed here.
Reviewed by:
William E. Berger, MD, FACAAI, is a board-certified allergist and immunologist who serves as a media spokesperson and Chair of the Medical Advisory Council for Allergy & Asthma Network. He is a Distinguished Fellow and Past President (2002-03) of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI).
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