So, you gave up cigarettes and made the switch to vaping, thinking you were choosing a safer path. After all, vaping doesn’t involve burning tobacco or inhaling smoke, and it’s often advertised as a less harmful option—especially when you choose a vape that contains no nicotine. But now, a disturbing new study has emerged, suggesting that even nicotine-free vaping can negatively affect your vascular system, increasing the risk of heart disease and circulatory problems. While it’s true that traditional cigarettes contain thousands of harmful chemicals—including tar, carbon monoxide, and known carcinogens—vaping isn’t the completely safe alternative many people assumed it to be. And if you’ve never smoked before but decided to pick up vaping, especially a nicotine-free version, thinking you were in the clear, recent findings should make you think twice.

Researchers have begun to dig deeper into the potential dangers of vaping, comparing nicotine-free vapes, those containing nicotine, and traditional cigarettes to see how each affects vascular health. The results? Startling. But before diving into the study’s findings, let’s take a moment to understand exactly what vaping is and why it became so widely accepted so quickly. Vaping involves using battery-powered devices known as e-cigarettes or vapes. These devices heat a special liquid to create an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which involve the combustion of tobacco and the inhalation of smoke, vaping doesn’t produce smoke or tar, leading many to believe it’s a much safer option. This belief is largely what helped vaping skyrocket in popularity, especially among younger users.

The liquid used in vapes, known as e-liquid or vape juice, typically contains a base of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. These substances help produce the thick, cloudy vapor that’s often seen when someone exhales. While these ingredients are approved for consumption in foods, inhaling them is an entirely different matter. Once heated and aerosolized, these chemicals can break down and transform into harmful byproducts. Breathing in these byproducts can irritate the lungs and airways, potentially leading to chronic coughing, difficulty breathing, and lung inflammation. And that’s before you even factor in the flavorings.

Flavored vape juices have become one of the major selling points of vaping. Whether it’s sweet like mango, cool like mint, or rich like a dessert, these appealing options often come with a hidden danger. Many of the chemicals used to produce those tasty flavors have been linked to respiratory issues. One particularly concerning chemical is diacetyl, which has been associated with a serious condition known as “popcorn lung,” a disease that damages the small airways in the lungs. Another chemical, benzaldehyde, commonly found in fruit-flavored vapes, can irritate the respiratory system. And let’s not forget the heavy metals—trace amounts of nickel, lead, and tin have been detected in the aerosol produced by vapes due to the heating coils used in the devices. Even if the vape contains no nicotine at all, users are still exposing themselves to a range of harmful substances every time they take a puff.

Dr. Michael Blaha, a leading cardiologist, told Johns Hopkins Medicine, “You’re exposing yourself to all kinds of chemicals that we don’t yet understand and that are probably not safe.” His concern is particularly heightened by the sheer number of young people picking up vaping as a habit. In 2021 alone, over two million middle and high school students in the United States reported using e-cigarettes, with more than 80% of them choosing flavored versions. “What I find most troubling,” Blaha said, “is that people who likely would’ve never picked up smoking are now vaping, especially kids and teens. It’s one thing to switch from cigarettes to vaping in an attempt to quit. It’s something else entirely to start your journey into nicotine addiction through vaping. And unfortunately, that path often leads right back to traditional tobacco use.”

Now, let’s revisit the 2024 study that has turned many heads in the medical community. Researchers set out to determine whether the base liquids and flavor chemicals in vapes could cause immediate harm to the body, even without nicotine present. Their findings were eye-opening. The study compared three groups: users of nicotine-containing vapes, users of nicotine-free vapes, and smokers of regular cigarettes. All three groups showed measurable decreases in vascular function shortly after using their respective products. In fact, the worst effects were seen in those who used nicotine-containing vapes, but even those who vaped without nicotine showed significant vascular impairment. In simple terms, the blood vessels didn’t function as well after exposure, regardless of whether nicotine was involved.

Dr. Marianna Nabbout, one of the study’s lead researchers, emphasized the broader implications. “This study highlights the immediate impact that smoking and vaping can have on various vascular systems in the body,” she explained. “If using an e-cigarette just once can affect the function of your blood vessels, then it’s entirely possible that using them regularly could contribute to chronic vascular disease.” These findings challenge the widely held belief that nicotine-free vaping is a harmless habit. Instead, the research strongly suggests that the chemicals used in the base liquids and flavorings are capable of doing real harm to your body, particularly to your heart and circulatory system.

So if you’ve been vaping because you believed it was a safe alternative to smoking—especially if your vape is nicotine-free—it may be time to reconsider. The science is becoming increasingly clear: vaping isn’t harmless, and even nicotine-free options carry significant health risks. Whether you’re a long-time smoker looking for a way to quit, or someone who started vaping for fun or stress relief, it’s worth thinking carefully about the potential consequences. Your vascular health—and your future—might depend on it. What do you think about these new revelations? If this information surprised you or gave you pause, share it with friends and family so they, too, can be informed. The more people understand the risks, the better choices they can make for their health and well-being.