Sobering simulation reveals exactly what happens to your body when you vape

A new simulation shows what vaping does to your lungs and it’s not pretty.

We all know vaping isn’t exactly good for us. Whilst it's pitched as a safer alternative to smoking, it doesn’t mean it’s risk-free.

More worryingly, it's also become a huge trend among younger generations. According to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), in 2024, 18% of 11–17-year-olds had tried vaping, and 7.2% were current vapers.

That said, the consequences of long-term vaping on our health are yet to be discovered, according to the NHS.

Yet hearing stories like the man who had only a 1% chance of survival after getting hooked on vaping, or the 17-year-old who needed surgery to remove part of her lung is enough to make you put that berry-flavoured pen down for good.

chuchart duangdaw / Getty

Now, what actually happens when we ingest the chemicals has been terrifyingly illustrated in a simulation on YouTube.

Thanks to The Infographics Show, we can understand what happens to your lungs when you take a hit of an e-cigarette.

When you inhale from a vape, chemicals coat your lungs, leading to a mucus buildup on the alveoli (the tiny air sacs that help you breathe). The simulation shows that the chemicals can have a damaging 'paralytic effect' on the lungs and the cilia.

It takes weeks for them to recover, and during that time, your body is way more vulnerable to infections and respiratory issues.

"Research on vaping-related harm is rapidly developing. Current evidence suggests vapes are less harmful than smoking tobacco products, but they aren’t risk-free," the NHS states.

Most vapes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. They also contain other chemicals like propylene glycol, glycerine and flavourings - none of which belong in your lungs, the NHS explains.

One of the biggest concerns with vaping is its appeal to teenagers. With flavours like bubblegum and blue raspberry, it’s attracting the eyes of younger people who are getting hooked to this relatively new phenomenon.

A 2023 study found that 4.6% of middle school students (ages 11-14) and 10% of high school students (ages 14-18) reported using e-cigarettes, according to the CDC. That adds up to 2.13 million students in the US alone.

The science is still lacking in this area, especially on the long-term effects of vaping. But some research is starting to connect the dots.

A recent study in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine compared lung inflammation in vapers vs. non-smokers.

It turns out those who used e-cigarettes were associated with lung inflammation and inflammatory lung disease, both causing wheezing, breathing problems, and chest pain and tightness, as per Very Well Health.