Can My Lungs Heal After Vaping?

What Happens to the Lungs After You Quit Vaping?

The good news is that, yes, your lungs can heal after quitting vaping. However, the extent and speed of healing may depend on factors like how long you’ve vaped and the damage it’s done.

What Happens in the Days, Weeks, and Months After Quitting Vaping

When you stop vaping, your lungs begin to repair themselves. In some ways, lung recovery from vaping may be quicker than quitting smoking because vaping does not produce tar build-up.

However, the long-term effects of e-cigarette use remain uncertain due to ongoing research. Additionally, e-cigarettes often contain higher nicotine levels than traditional cigarettes, which can make quitting more challenging.

Here’s a timeline of what happens in the days, weeks, and months after quitting vaping. The following data is based on quitting cigarettes, but quitting vaping has similar effects:

• After 20 minutes: Heart rate returns to normal
• After 12 to 24 hours: Carbon monoxide levels normalize, reducing heart attack risk
• After two weeks: Lung function improves, and heart attack risk declines further
• After one to nine months: Coughing and shortness of breath gradually decrease
• After one year: Risk of heart disease drops by half

Lingering and Permanent Effects on Your Lungs

Because vaping is a relatively recent phenomenon (unlike cigarettes, which have been studied for decades), its full impact on the body (especially the lungs) is not fully understood.

Though many lung issues can improve with time after quitting vaping, some effects may be long-lasting or even permanent, especially with long-term use.

Lingering and Permanent Effects May Include:

1. Popcorn Lung (Bronchiolitis Obliterans): A serious and rare lung condition caused by inhaling chemicals like diacetyl, which can scar the small airways in the lungs, leading to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.
2. Chronic Lung Diseases: The inhalation of harmful chemicals in e-cigarette aerosols has been linked to an increased risk of chronic lung diseases, such as bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
3. Decreased Lung Capacity: Vaping can lead to decreased lung capacity and shortness of breath.

Conclusion

Quitting vaping is a significant step towards recovering from the negative effects of e-cigarette use. While the lungs can heal, it’s essential to be aware of the potential long-term and permanent effects of vaping. If you’re struggling to quit, consider seeking professional help or speaking with a healthcare provider for guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the long-term effects of vaping on the lungs?
• Can I detox my lungs after quitting vaping?
• How long does it take for the lungs to recover after quitting vaping?
• What are the risks of vaping and e-cigarettes?

References

• American Lung Association. Benefits of quitting.
• University of California San Francisco. E-cigarettes significantly raise risk of chronic lung disease, first long-term study finds.
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. COPD treatment.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to quit smoking.
• American Lung Association. Can you detox your lungs?
• Sahin H, Naz I. The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on smoking and health outcomes in COPD patients.
• Blount BC, Karwowski MP, Shields PG, et al. Vitamin E acetate in bronchoalveolar-lavage fluid associated with EVALI.
• Shehata sa, toraih ea, ismail ea, et al. Vaping, environmental toxicants exposure, and lung cancer risk.

Author Bio

Sarah Jividen, RN, is a healthcare journalist with over a decade of direct patient care experience working as a registered nurse, specializing in neurotrauma, stroke, and the emergency room.