Why Vaping Is Doing More Damage To Your Nose And Throat Than You Think

If you're someone who prefers vaping over more traditional ways of smoking, you might do so because it smells better and feels cleaner. But there is an increasing amount of research pointing out the dangers of vaping, including one new study highlighting the damage it potentially poses to your nose and throat.

We've known for a while now about the dangers of e-cigarettes and vape products. A 2019 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reported that e-cigs were more addictive than traditional cigarettes thanks to higher levels of nicotine.

There is also research pointing to toxic additives found in vapes that can cause various health concerns. A 2020 study in Toxics outlined various harmful chemicals found in e-cigs, CBD, and THC vapes that were known to cause respiratory issues and lung injury. Additionally, a 2021 study published in Chemical Research in Toxicology reported that substances identified in a variety of vape products contained chemicals known to have adverse effects on the lungs and respiratory system.

According to a 2022 study published in the journal Tobacco Use Insights, how you use a vape may be causing direct damage to your nose and throat. Lead study author and postdoctoral research fellow at NYU Langone Health, Emma Karey, explained to U.S. News & World Report, "Our findings suggest that the unique way vapers and hookah smokers use their devices may expose the nose and sinuses to far more emissions than cigarettes."

In this study, exhalation patterns of e-cig users, hookah smokers, and those smoking traditional cigarettes were observed. Results showed that people who used vapes had much higher rates of exhaling through their noses than those smoking cigarettes. The suggested reason for this was that vape products typically offer a variety of flavors to choose from to enhance the experience of vaping (via U.S. News & World Report). Because you use your sense of smell to taste a flavor, the study authors theorized that this is why vapers more commonly exhale through their noses. They also suggested that because of this, vape users may have a higher chance of problems specific to the nose and sinuses thanks to more direct exposure to chemicals known to cause irritations.