Vaping among young people has soared over the last decade, especially in places like the US, Canada, and England. While classic cigarette smoking is becoming less common, youth vaping is on the rise. With this shift, new health concerns are emerging. Are you curious about the real impact of youth vaping and breathing issues? Recent research gives us some important answers—and some new questions.

Why Are Youth Vaping Rates Rising?

Today’s teens and young adults are vaping more than previous generations. According to surveys, more than a quarter of young people in major Western countries have tried vaping at least once. Flavoured vapes, easy-to-use disposables, and heavy marketing have helped make vaping popular. At the same time, cigarette smoking is falling out of favour, but the health risks of vaping are becoming harder to ignore.

Understanding Youth Vaping and Breathing Issues

We all know smoking can damage your lungs. But could vaping harm your breathing too? To find out, researchers surveyed over 39,000 young people aged 16–19 across the US, Canada, and England in 2020–2021.

The Study in a Nutshell

• Most respondents had never vaped (64%) or smoked (70%).
• 28% reported breathing issues like coughing, breathlessness, chest pain, phlegm, or wheezing in the past week.
• Young people who only vaped were more likely to have breathing issues than those who had never smoked or vaped.
• Vaping was tied to similar odds of breathing issues as smoking.
• Those who both smoked and vaped had the highest risk of symptoms.

“The more frequently participants vaped, the higher their likelihood of breathing issues,” the researchers found.

How Vaping Frequency Affects Lungs

One important finding is that frequency makes a big difference:

• Young people who vaped more than 20 days a month were twice as likely as never-users to report symptoms.
• Every extra day of vaping in the past 30 days slightly increased the odds of breathing issues.

This dose-response trend shines a light on a simple truth—inhaling more vape means more potential risk.

Does Vape Type or Flavour Matter for Respiratory Health?

With hundreds of vape flavours and devices on shop shelves, it’s reasonable to ask if certain products are more dangerous than others when it comes to youth vaping and breathing issues.

Nicotine Salts

Nicotine salts are a “modern” nicotine form found in many disposable vapes and pods. Researchers discovered that using nicotine salts might be linked with more breathing issues. However, there’s uncertainty since many participants weren’t sure what kind of nicotine they were inhaling.

Flavours and Devices

• Multiple flavours, fruit, and “other” flavours were tied to higher odds of symptoms. More than half (51%) of multiple-flavour users reported breathing issues, compared to just 34% of those who used tobacco flavours.
• Disposable vapes were linked to chest pain and shortness of breath more than pod-based devices.

Put simply, not all vapes are equal when it comes to lung health.

Are There Differences Between Countries?

An interesting question is whether youth vaping and breathing issues are more common in one country than another.

• Canada reported fewer symptoms overall.
• The US reported more breathing issues than England or Canada.
• However, among youth who vaped recently, the prevalence of symptoms was quite similar across countries.

This suggests that the product type and frequency might matter more than the country of residence.

Limitations and Cautions

No study is perfect, and this one is no exception:

• Breathing issues were common even among non-vapers and non-smokers. Causes could include allergies, infections, or air pollution.
• The study relied on self-reported symptoms and product use, which are subject to memory errors.
• The pandemic may have made people more aware of their breathing problems.
• Many young vapers did not know what kind or strength of nicotine they used, which makes it trickier to study the exact risks.

What Does It All Mean for Young People?

Here’s the big takeaway: Youth vaping is strongly linked to breathing issues—even in those who haven’t smoked. The risk is higher for those who vape more often, use multiple flavours or disposable vapes, and those using products with nicotine salts.

These breathing problems—including coughing, wheezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath—might seem “mild” at first. However, they can affect quality of life and signal possible long-term harm. It’s worth noting that for smokers trying to quit, switching to vaping can reduce some health risks. But for young people who don’t smoke, there’s no health benefit to starting to vape.

“Breathing issues were common even among non-vapers and non-smokers, making it important to consider all causes of respiratory symptoms. ” the researchers noted.

Policy Changes and What Comes Next

With youth vaping and breathing issues on the rise, governments are stepping up. The UK’s proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill (2024) aims to:

• Ban most vape marketing
• Restrict the flavours available
• Make it illegal to vape in smoke-free areas

Researchers also suggest stricter labelling and quality control for vaping products. They highlight the need for more research into vape ingredients, long-term risks, and the effects of nicotine type and flavours.

While it’s clear youth vaping is not risk-free, many questions remain. More long-term studies are needed, including physical lung function tests and biochemical markers. Until then, health professionals and policymakers urge caution, especially for young people who have never smoked.

Take Control of Your Breathing Health

If you’re a young person weighing up whether to vape, the evidence is clear enough to hit pause. Frequent vaping can impact your breathing—even if you’ve never smoked a cigarette. If you experience symptoms like coughing, chest pain, or shortness of breath, talk to your doctor and be honest about any vaping or smoking habits. And remember, your lungs are meant for fresh air, not fruit-flavoured clouds.

Source: dbrecoveryresources