Vaping rise among non-smoking young adults in England; know how it affects your health

Researchers estimate that the number of adults in England who have taken up vaping despite never having been regular smokers has reached one million, the BBC reports. This is a sharp increase from 2020, as disposables have been available since 2021. The study was published in the journal Lancet Public Health and funded by the charity Cancer Research UK.

The increase is due to young adults ages 18 to 24 who never smoked regularly but now use e-cigarettes.

Dr Sarah Jackson, from University College London (UCL), and lead researcher, said the public health impact of the “substantial increase” in vaping among people who have never smoked regularly depended on what they would be doing otherwise. She said: “It is likely that some would have smoked if vaping was not an available option.

“In this case, vaping is clearly less harmful.

“However, for those who would not have smoked, vaping regularly over a sustained period poses more risk than not vaping.”

For the study, researchers analyzed surveys of around 150,000 adults in England between 2016 and 2024. Respondents who agreed with the statement: “I have never been a smoker, that is, I smoked for a year or more,” were counted as ” never regular smokers. .

And between 2016 and 2020, only 0.5% of these had vaped. However, by April 2024, this proportion had increased to 3.5%, with more than half being between 18 and 24 years old.

Researchers say that in recent years, these “never regular smokers” who took up vaping tended to be younger, more female, and drinking at increasing levels than in the past.

Professor Jamie Brown from UCL and lead researcher said: “These findings are a reminder that action is needed to try to minimize vaping among young people who have never smoked before.

“However, a balancing act is required to avoid discouraging smokers from using e-cigarettes to quit smoking.”

Vaping can affect your health in different ways. Below, take a look at some of the ways vaping affects your overall health.

lung damage

Vaping can cause inflammation and lung damage due to harmful chemicals in e-liquids, such as diacetyl, which is linked to serious lung conditions such as bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung).

Nicotine addiction

Many vaping products contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance that affects brain development, especially in young adults, leading to dependence and a potential risk of smoking.

heart health

Vaping increases heart rate and blood pressure, thereby increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems due to nicotine and toxic substances.

Impact on the immune system

The chemicals in e-cigarettes can weaken the immune system by affecting the body’s ability to fight infections, making users more susceptible to diseases such as pneumonia.

Exposure to harmful substances

E-cigarette aerosols have toxic compounds, including formaldehyde and acrolein, which are linked to cancer and respiratory problems.