Health
Severe health risks of vaping and e-cigarettes, especially for youth, say experts
Vaping, the practice of inhaling and exhaling aerosol from an e-cigarette, has emerged as a trend, especially among teenagers and young adults.
While the full impact of e-cigarettes on mental and physical health is still to be determined, current research indicates potential health risks.
What exactly is vaping?
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Vaping devices, which include e-cigarettes, e-vaporizers and electronic nicotine delivery systems, are battery-operated devices originally designed as an alternative to the experience of traditional smoking.
Users inhale an aerosol mist — often containing nicotine, various flavorings and other chemicals — produced when the liquid inside the device is heated. These devices come in various forms, sometimes resembling everyday items such as pens, traditional cigarettes, USB memory sticks or even juice boxes.
In teenagers and young adults, the brain is still developing. Exposure to nicotine can lead to attention, learning, behavioral and impulse control problems. (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
The term “vaping” arises from transforming liquid to vapor when the user puffs on the device.
Other terms associated with vaping include “dripping,” manually applying e-liquid to the heated coils, and “JUULing,” a term referring to the JUUL brand of e-cigarettes.
Fox News Digital reached out to JUUL, based in San Francisco, for comment for this article. While the company responded, it opted not to provide a statement at this time.
Initially designed as tools to pursue smoking cessation and to act as an alternative, e-cigarettes began to grow in popularity as an enjoyable experience, especially with the flavorings available and the concealability.
Appeal of e-cigarettes for adolescents
In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted an e-cigarette epidemic among youth, based on a 78% increase in use from the previous year among high school students recorded by the National Youth Tobacco Survey.
A primary reason that e-cigarettes appeal to the younger generations is their accessibility.
Young adults aged 18 to 24 are the most frequent users of e-cigarettes. Data also shows that among the 11- to 15-year-old age group, 9% reported having tried vaping, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A primary reason that e-cigarettes appeal to the younger generations is their accessibility, according to the Rehabilitation Nursing Journal.
Other reasons listed for their appeal include the targeted marketing, enticing flavors, social media influence and the belief that they are safer than the traditional alternative of regular cigarettes.
Health risks of vaping
The adolescent years are a critical time for brain development, which continues until about the age of 25, according to physiological studies.
Vaping can lead to lung irritation and has been linked to respiratory problems, such as coughing, wheezing and asthma. (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
During this time, the prefrontal cortex — a part of the brain responsible for decision-making and impulse control — is particularly vulnerable to external influences.
Introducing nicotine through vaping can disrupt the development of neuronal circuits, which could lead to changes in brain function. In particular, nicotine exposure can desensitize the brain’s receptors, which would make it more difficult for an individual to experience pleasure without increased nicotine use.
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Nicotine’s effect on the brain also impacts the reward system, because it increases dopamine release, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This change can be particularly harmful during the developmental stage, as the ongoing maturation of the brain is essential to establishing healthy cognitive and behavioral patterns for adulthood.
Other negative effects of nicotine use, especially in youth, as has been widely reported, include:
Respiratory issues
The use of e-cigarettes has been correlated with lung injury, according to a CDC update providing guidance to health care providers.
A specific and severe lung condition, E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), has been directly linked to the use of vapes.
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The flavors added to the cartridge have been implicated as a possible factor related to respiratory issues, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Nicotine and other chemicals found in e-cigarettes can have harmful effects on the heart and the rest of the cardiovascular system. (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
Chemicals such as benzaldehyde and diacetyl are especially concerning due to their association with lung damage, according to the Journal of the American Academy of PAs (JAAPA).
Cardiovascular health
A study conducted by JAMA Cardiology found that the same negative impacts on the cardiovascular health of traditional cigarette smokers were seen in habitual e-cigarette users as well.
Additionally, those who “used e-cigarettes at any point” had a 19% higher risk of developing heart failure, according to a study by the American College of Cardiology.
Chemical exposure
Inhalation of chemicals found in e-cigarette liquids is known to be especially harmful to adolescents, according to the American Lung Association.
Propylene glycol, a key ingredient in many vaping products, has been associated with several health issues.
Exposure to propylene glycol may be a contributing root cause of conditions such as rhinitis, asthma and dry mouth, according to JAAPA.
Moreover, when vaporized, propylene glycol can decompose into formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, irritating the eyes, nose, throat, upper respiratory tract and skin.
A pharmacist named Hon Lik invented the first vape in 2003. He originally invented the device to help smokers quit the habit. (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
Concerns about the safety of these substances are manifested by a lack of regulation in the vaping industry.
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“The pharmacologically active components of vaping products are not regulated, and the methods by which they are extracted and suspended in solution vary greatly … The risk profiles of these inhaled chemical mixtures change significantly depending upon the method by which they are vaporized or heated,” cautions the Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association.
How do e-cigarettes compare to traditional cigarettes?
It was not until 2016 that the Food and Drug Administration began to regulate e-cigarettes, as reported by the Rehabilitation Nursing Journal.
With this regulatory shift, the items became subject to similar restrictions as tobacco products, including the age requirement for purchase of 18 years old.
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Highlighting the consequences of vaping, 22-year-old Jackson Allard shared his experience as a caution to youth who are considering vaping, as Fox News previously reported.
Likely as a result of his vaping habit, Allard developed parainfluenza, which led to pneumonia and then acute respiratory distress syndrome; he nearly lost his life.
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His grandmother, Doreen Hurlburt, frequently warned him against the habit, she said.
“Multiple doctors said, ‘If you smoke cigarettes for 50 years, we’ll see you with lung cancer, and if you vape for five years, we’ll see you with permanent lung damage,’” Hurlburt told Fox News.
Mills Hays of Fox News contributed reporting.
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The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S.
The Wegovy pill, from drugmaker Novo Nordisk, was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce excess body weight, maintain long-term weight reduction and lower the risk of major cardiovascular events.
Approval of the once-daily 25mg semaglutide pill was based on the results of two clinical trials — the OASIS trial program and the SELECT trial.
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The Wegovy pill demonstrated a mean weight loss of 16.6% in the OASIS 4 trial among adults who were obese or overweight and had one or more comorbidities (other medical conditions), according to a press release. In the same trial, one in three participants experienced 20% or greater weight loss.
The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S. (iStock)
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile.
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“With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” said Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, in the press release.
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile. (James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images)
“As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for people living with overweight or obesity, the Wegovy pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight-loss journey.”
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The oral GLP-1 is expected to launch in the U.S. in early January 2026. Novo Nordisk has also submitted oral semaglutide for obesity to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory authorities.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” an expert said. (iStock)
Dr. Sue Decotiis, a medical weight-loss doctor in New York City, confirmed in an interview with Fox News Digital that studies show oral Wegovy is comparable to the weekly injectable, just without the needles.
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Although the pill may result in better compliance and ease of use, Decotiis warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version due to individual idiosyncrasies in the body.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” she said.
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“In my practice, I have found tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) to yield more weight loss and fat loss than semaglutide by about 20%,” the doctor added. “This has been shown in studies, often [with] fewer side effects.”
More oral GLP-1s may be coming in 2026, according to Decotiis, including an Orforglipron application by Lilly and a new combination Novo Nordisk drug, which is pending approval later next year.
One expert warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version. (iStock)
“There will be more new drugs available in the future that will be more effective for patients who are more insulin-resistant and have not responded as well to semaglutide and/or tirzepatide,” the doctor said. “This is great news, as novel drugs affecting more receptors mean better long-term results in more patients.”
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As these medications become cheaper and easier to access, Decotiis emphasized that keeping up with healthy lifestyle habits — including proper nutrition with sufficient protein and fiber, as well as increased hydration — is essential to ensuring lasting results.
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“If not, patients will regain weight and could lose muscle and not enough body fat,” she said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk for comment.
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A study from Sweden’s Uppsala University discovered a link between microplastics and multiple sclerosis (MS).
The research, published in the journal Environmental International, discovered that exposure to two common environmental contaminants, PFAS and PCBs, could increase the risk of the autoimmune disease.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are used in some common household products, such as non-stick cookware, textiles and cleaning products. They have also been found in drinking water throughout the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic industrial chemicals once widely used in electrical equipment before being banned decades ago, as stated by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
The new study findings were based on blood samples of 1,800 Swedish individuals, including about 900 who had recently been diagnosed with MS, according to a university press release.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are used in some common household products, including non-stick cookware. (iStock)
The first phase of the trial studied 14 different PFAS contaminants and three substances that appear when PCBs are broken down in the body. These were then investigated for a link to the odds of diagnosis.
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“We saw that several individual substances, such as PFOS and two hydroxylated PCBs, were linked to increased odds for MS,” lead study author Kim Kultima said in a statement. “People with the highest concentrations of PFOS and PCBs had approximately twice the odds of being diagnosed with MS, compared to those with the lowest concentrations.”
The researchers then examined the combined effects of these substances and found that the mixture was also linked to increased risk.
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Fellow researcher Aina Vaivade noted that risk assessments should consider chemical mixtures, not just individual exposures, because people are typically exposed to multiple substances at the same time.
“We saw that several individual substances, such as PFOS and two hydroxylated PCBs, were linked to increased odds for MS,” the lead study author said. (iStock)
The final phase of the study investigated the relationship between inheritance, chemical exposure and the odds of MS diagnosis, revealing that those who carry a certain gene variant actually have a reduced MS risk.
However, individuals who carried the gene and had higher exposure to PFOS — a singular type of chemical in the PFAS family — had an “unexpected” increased risk of MS.
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“This indicates that there is a complex interaction between inheritance and environmental exposure linked to the odds of MS,” Kultima said.
“We therefore think it is important to understand how environmental contaminants interact with hereditary factors, as this can provide new knowledge about the genesis of MS and could also be relevant for other diseases.”
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that leads to the breakdown of the protective covering of the nerves, according to Mayo Clinic. (iStock)
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel commented on these findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“MS is a complex disease that is somewhat autoimmune and somewhat post-inflammatory,” said Siegel, who was not involved in the study. “Epstein-Barr virus infection greatly increases the risk of MS.”
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“There is every reason to believe that environmental triggers play a role, including microplastics, and this important study shows a correlation, but not causation — in other words, it doesn’t prove that the microplastics caused MS.”
The study had some limitations, the researchers acknowledged, including that the chemical exposure was measured only once, at the time of blood sampling. This means it may not accurately represent participants’ long-term or past exposure levels relevant to MS development.
“There is every reason to believe that environmental triggers play a role.”
Fox News Digital reached out to several industry groups and manufacturers requesting comment on the potential link between PFAS chemicals and multiple sclerosis.
Several have issued public statements, including the American Chemistry Council, which states on its website that “manufacturers and many users of today’s PFAS are implementing a variety of practices and technologies to help minimize environmental emissions.”
In April 2024, the EPA enacted a new federal rule that sets mandatory limits on certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water, aiming to reduce exposure. The agency also aims to fund testing and treatment efforts.
A woman working out outdoors takes a sip of water from a plastic bottle. (iStock)
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that leads to the breakdown of the protective coverings that surround nerve fibers, according to Mayo Clinic.
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The immune system’s attack on these nerve sheaths can cause numbness, weakness, trouble walking and moving, vision changes and other symptoms, and can lead to permanent damage.
There is currently no cure for MS, Mayo Clinic reports, but treatment is available to manage symptoms and modify the course of the disease.
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