Guide · Australia

The Effects of Vaping

Vaping is newer than smoking, so long-term data is still coming in. Here's what the evidence already shows — short-term and long-term — without the scare tactics.

Short-term effects (first weeks and months)

  • Coughing and throat irritation — from PG and the aerosol itself.
  • Dry mouth and reduced saliva — leads to bad breath and tooth decay.
  • Headaches and dizziness — usually nicotine dose too high.
  • Nicotine poisoning symptoms in heavy vapers — nausea, racing heart, vomiting.
  • Disrupted sleep — nicotine is a stimulant.

Effects on your lungs

Australian and US studies link daily vaping with increased risk of bronchitis, asthma flare-ups, and inflammation deep in the small airways. EVALI (a severe vaping-related lung injury) is rare and mostly tied to black-market THC vapes, but it confirmed the aerosol can cause acute damage.

Effects on your heart

Nicotine raises heart rate and blood pressure within minutes. Daily vapers show higher rates of high blood pressure and worse blood vessel function vs non-users. The long-term cardiovascular risk likely sits between non-smoking and smoking — closer to non-smoking, but not zero.

Effects on your brain

Nicotine rewires reward and attention pathways, especially in people under 25 whose brains are still developing. Effects documented in adolescents include reduced impulse control, worse memory, and higher anxiety and depression scores.

Effects on your mouth and teeth

  • Higher rates of gum disease and tooth decay (the sweetened liquid feeds oral bacteria).
  • Receding gums and white patches on the cheeks ("vaper's mouth").
  • Persistent bad breath.

Effects on mental health

Nicotine briefly relieves anxiety, then makes baseline anxiety worse between hits. Australian youth studies show vapers report higher rates of depression and anxiety than non-vapers — the relationship is two-way, but quitting reliably improves both within a few weeks.

What's still unclear

  • 20-year cancer risk (no one has been vaping long enough).
  • Effects of specific flavouring chemicals when inhaled.
  • Risk to bystanders from second-hand vapour.

The bottom line

If you smoke, switching completely to vaping reduces harm. If you don't smoke, vaping adds risk. If you vape and want to stop, see our quit vaping guide or talk to your pharmacist about a step-down plan.