Know Your Vape

Vaping and Asthma: Unhealthy Effects Explained

By Know Your Vape · · Updated

Contents

Brief Overview of Vaping and Asthma

Vaping is less harmful than smoking for adults who switch completely, but it is not risk-free. For people with asthma, the main concern is that inhaled aerosol can irritate already sensitive airways.

The National Academies found moderate evidence of more cough and wheeze in adolescents who vape, and an association between vaping and more asthma flare-ups. Long-term evidence is still limited.

This article covers what is known about vaping and asthma, including the studies and statistics on vaping and asthma, and the health risks for people with asthma.

Understanding Asthma

Definition and Causes

Asthma is a chronic condition in which the airways become inflamed and narrow, making it hard to breathe. It affects both children and adults.

Its exact causes are not fully known. A mix of genetic and environmental factors is believed to play a role.

Common Triggers of Asthma Attacks

The CDC lists common triggers, including secondhand smoke, dust mites, air pollution, mold, pets, pests, respiratory infections, and strong chemicals or fragrances. Exercise, weather, and strong emotions can also trigger symptoms.

Triggers vary from person to person.

The CDC's trigger list does not name vaping, but researchers are studying it. There is growing concern about the risks of e-cigarettes, and some studies have found links between vaping and respiratory problems, including asthma symptoms.

The next section covers vaping itself and common vaping health concerns.

Understanding Vaping

What is Vaping?

Vaping means inhaling an aerosol made by an e-cigarette. The device heats a liquid, called e-liquid or vape juice, that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals.

Vaping avoids burning tobacco, so it exposes users to fewer toxicants than smoking. It still raises health concerns.

Common Misconceptions About Vaping

  1. Vaping is harmless: false. The aerosol can contain nicotine, heavy metals, ultrafine particles, and other harmful chemicals.
  2. E-cigarettes don't contain nicotine: most do, and nicotine is highly addictive.
  3. Vaping is an approved quit aid: no e-cigarette is FDA approved for quitting. A 2026 Cochrane review did find high-certainty evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes help more smokers quit than nicotine replacement therapy. Using both cigarettes and vapes is not a safe middle ground.
  4. Secondhand vapor is harmless: secondhand exposure is lower than with cigarette smoke, but it still adds nicotine and particles to indoor air.

The long-term effects of vaping are still being studied, which matters most for people with conditions like asthma.

The Connection Between Vaping and Asthma

How Vaping Triggers Asthma Attacks

E-cigarette aerosol contains fine particles and chemicals that can irritate the airways. In people with asthma, irritated airways can tighten and produce mucus, which brings on symptoms.

Propylene glycol, nicotine, and some flavorings are all being studied as possible airway irritants. The exact effects of each are not yet clear.

Studies and Statistics on Vaping and Asthma

According to the National Academies' review of e-cigarette evidence, there is moderate evidence of increased cough and wheeze in adolescents who vape. There is also moderate evidence of an association between vaping and more asthma flare-ups.

That review found no available evidence, as of 2018, on whether vaping causes respiratory diseases such as asthma in humans. It also found limited evidence that smokers with asthma who switch to vaping may see improved lung function and symptoms.

The 2019 outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) led to 2,807 hospitalizations or deaths by February 2020. Most cases were linked to THC-containing products, and vitamin E acetate was strongly linked to the outbreak.

More research is needed. For more on the health risks of e-cigarettes, see our related guide.

Health Risks of Vaping for Asthmatics

Immediate Effects

Vaping can irritate the airways and cause cough, wheeze, and shortness of breath. For people with asthma, that irritation may lead to a flare-up.

If you have trouble breathing after vaping, follow your asthma action plan and seek urgent care if symptoms are severe.

Long-Term Effects

The long-term effects of vaping on people with asthma are not well understood. Concerns include vaping and lung damage, but evidence in humans is limited.

Diacetyl, a flavoring chemical, is linked to a serious lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans ("popcorn lung") in factory workers. Confirmed cases caused by vaping have not been established.

Nicotine also raises heart rate and blood pressure in the short term. Whether that leads to heart disease over the long term is unknown. For more, see the long-term effects of vaping.

Risks of Secondhand Vapor

Secondhand vapor exposes bystanders to nicotine and fine particles. Exposure is lower than with secondhand cigarette smoke, but people with asthma may still react to airway irritants.

Keeping homes and cars free of smoke and vapor is a sensible step for anyone with asthma.

Tips for Asthmatics

Avoiding Vaping

If you have asthma and do not smoke, do not start vaping. Various studies show that e-cigarette aerosol contains particles and chemicals that can irritate the airways.

Seeking Medical Advice

See your healthcare provider regularly to keep asthma under control. If you vape and notice more coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath, tell your provider.

Alternatives to Vaping for Smokers

If you smoke and want to quit, talk with your provider about proven options. These include nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges, prescription medications, and counseling.

If you smoke and cannot quit with those, switching completely to vaping exposes you to fewer toxicants than smoking. It still carries health concerns, and stopping vaping too is the healthiest goal.

Conclusion

Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk-free, and people with asthma may be more sensitive to it. Teens who vape report more cough and wheeze, and vaping has been linked to more asthma flare-ups.

Evidence on the long-term effects of vaping is still limited. Secondhand vapor exposure is lower than with secondhand smoke, but it can still bother sensitive airways.

If you have asthma, the safest choice is not to vape. If you smoke, work with your provider on a quit plan, and keep learning about vaping health concerns.

Sources

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