Over the past several years, vaping, the general term used for smoking e-cigarettes, has become so popular that some are referring to it as an epidemic. Over the past couple of years, we have posted several articles about e-cigarettes and we urge you to take a few moments to review these posts:

2 Million Teens Engage in Harmful Fad

Surgeon General Wades in on Dangerous Teen Epidemic

2-Fold Danger of Teens Using E-Cigarettes

Heart Attacks & Strokes Linked to Use of E-Cigarettes

In these posts, the dangers referred to were tied to nicotine and other toxic elements contained in the smoke that so many inhale thinking it is far less harmful than inhaling the smoke from real cigarettes.

I’ve often tried to point out that inhaling ANY kind of smoke can be harmful. Even smoke from a campfire, fireplace, firepit, barbeque grill, trash fire, wildfire and house fire can contain deadly chemicals. There is a reason that the natural reaction to the smoke from these sources is to turn away, cover one’s mouth and nose. Smoke of any kind usually irritates the eyes as well, so why should anyone think that any kind of smoke can be safe and harmless?

While these past posts, the focus has been on the actual liquid being vaporized and inhaled, no one, until recently has looked at the flavorings added to e-cigarettes. One online source lists over 400 different flavors available for e-cigarettes.

So, how safe are these flavorings?

According to a recent report:

A new study says there may be a hidden danger to e-cigarettes — with or without nicotine.

These new concerns come from the one thing inside e-cigarettes often thought of as harmless: the flavors. New research says the fruity, cinnamon or menthol flavors may be giving you more than just better taste when you vape.

For years, healthcare providers have been warning us that there is danger to your heart from vaping. The initial concerns come from the nicotine in products such as Juul.

Each pack of cigarettes has 20 milligrams of nicotine, but a Juul pod has 41 milligrams, which makes it equivalent to about two packs of cigarettes. But now, this study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found potential problems with the flavorings in vaping products as well.

It appears chemicals in the inhaled vapor may pose unique risks. In laboratory studies, researchers grew cells that would be the kind that lines your blood vessels. They then exposed those cells to six different flavorings commonly used in e-cigarettes. They did not add nicotine to the flavorings.

They then modified conditions to make it similar to what would happen in the body after those cells were exposed to nicotine flavorings. They compared similar conditions for non-smokers and those who smoked traditional cigarettes.

The researchers concluded that vaping and some flavorings, even without nicotine, triggered blood vessel dysfunction that could raise heart disease risk.

Bottom line? There is NOTHING safe or harmless to one’s health found in vaping e-cigarettes and in some cases, it’s more harmful than smoking real cigarettes. Ask yourself or your friends if their health is worth being or looking acceptable or cool? The answer should be a resounding NO!