There are several reasons people may choose to vape without nicotine. They may want to wean themselves off of the addictive chemical, or they may enjoy vaping flavored e-liquids.

However, many vaporizers contain various chemicals that can cause serious health problems. Luckily, there are ways to make vaping safer.

Increased Risk of Lung Cancer

Does vaping without nicotine cause cancer? According to the most recent studies on vaping, heating and inhaling the chemicals in e-liquid mixtures may have particularly detrimental effects on lung tissue. Propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and diacetyl (also included in popcorn) are just a few of the tastes and additives in many e-liquids that might harm your lungs’ small airways.

Researchers discovered that when human lung cells were exposed to e-liquid in the laboratory, they increased the production of inflammation-related chemicals. These chemicals can cause damage to lung tissue and lead to various respiratory conditions, including pneumonia, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Moreover, exposure to e-liquids can also trigger an inflammatory response in your immune system, according to one 2018 in-vitro study. Inflammation can have adverse effects on your lungs, heart, and brain.

One of the biggest causes of death among smokers is lung cancer. The American Lung Association estimates that smoking is linked to about 80 percent of all lung cancer deaths in women and 90 percent in men.

Smoking cigarettes contains several carcinogens, such as tar and carbon monoxide. These carcinogens have been associated with a higher risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and other illnesses.

The toxins in e-liquids have also been linked to a rare lung condition called “popcorn lung.” This condition occurs when diacetyl, a food additive used to deepen e-cigarette flavorings, damages the tiny air sacs in your lungs, which thickens and narrows the organ’s airways.

Increased Risk of Lung Infections

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular, often marketed as a healthier alternative. They offer a variety of flavors and are designed to be less harmful than regular cigarettes.

But, they do pose specific health hazards. The most notable is that the chemicals in e-liquids may increase your risk of lung infections.

For instance, one study showed that nicotine-free e-liquids could trigger an immune response in lung cells. It can lead to inflammation that can cause various problems, including pneumonia, sinusitis, and asthma.

Another study found that vaping can damage the endothelium lining blood vessels. It may stop blood flow, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Other researchers have also found that e-cigarettes can increase the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which can lead to bacterial and viral infections. In addition, the vapors can irritate the mucous membrane in your nose and mouth.

These effects can be even more severe in people already susceptible to lung disease, such as smokers or those with asthma. For these reasons, avoiding using e-cigarettes if you have lung disease or asthma is essential. To achieve this, only purchase nicotine-free e-liquids. You can find them at online retailers or in physical stores near you. It is crucial to read reviews and ratings to ensure you are buying a high-quality product.

Increased Risk of Heart Disease

The chemicals that makeup cigarettes can harm the heart and lungs, so the American Heart Association says it’s “a bad idea” to smoke. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking can also raise your risk of lung cancer.

However, e-cigarettes don’t contain these harmful chemicals. Instead, they use a heating element to turn liquid nicotine and flavorings into a cloud of vapor that you inhale.

Researchers have found that e-cigarettes can cause vascular damage, especially if you’re vaping without nicotine. A new study finds that even vaping a small amount of an e-cigarette with no nicotine, which only contains propylene glycol, glycerol, and flavorings can disrupt vascular reactivity, which allows healthy blood vessels to widen when they need to (23).

This could have severe consequences if you’re already suffering from heart disease, explains Dr. Caporale, who published her findings in Radiology.

The reactivity of blood vessels is essential to maintain blood pressure levels, which are known to be at risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular problems. Moreover, nicotine increases oxidative stress and inflammation, worsening existing vascular issues.

Nicotine also stimulates the release of catecholamines, which elevates blood pressure and causes an increase in triglycerides. These triglycerides lead to an elevation in LDL and very low-density lipoproteins, two cholesterol types associated with heart disease and other serious ailments.

Increased Risk of Stroke

E-cigarettes or vaping without nicotine have been linked to an increased risk of stroke in a study of young people. The new research, published Monday in the American Heart Association journal Preventive Medicine, is among the largest ever to investigate e-cigarettes and stroke.

One of the leading causes of death in the US is stroke, which is generally avoidable. Despite declining smoking rates over the last decade, cigarette smokers still have significantly higher risks of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases than non-smokers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state as much.

In a new 2018 in-vitro study, researchers found that exposure to the vapors of e-cigarettes led to the death of cells in the lungs and heart. It is because the vapors of e-cigarettes are known to harm blood vessel cells, which play a critical role in long-term heart health.

These cells also help defend your body against toxins and infections. When they die, weakened blood vessels can allow more toxins to enter your lungs and heart.

The new research also found that current dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes had a two-and-a-half times higher risk of stroke than those who only smoke. The researchers used data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing, nationwide survey of residents about their health behaviors and chronic medical conditions.