Doctors breaks down the real risks of smoking and vaping, urging users to quit both to safeguard their health.
June-3, 2025: Vaping is often touted as a safer alternative to smoking, but the truth is more nuanced. According to Dr. Viny Kantroo, a senior consultant in respiratory and critical care medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, while vaping might be “less harmful” than traditional cigarette smoking, it’s far from safe.
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“Cigarette smoking involves burning tobacco, releasing thousands of toxic chemicals, dozens of which can cause cancer. Smoking is directly linked to lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic breathing problems,” Dr. Kantroo explained.
In contrast, vaping doesn’t involve burning tobacco. Instead, e-cigarettes heat a liquid (often containing nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals) to produce an inhalable vapor. “This vapor has fewer toxic substances than cigarette smoke,” Dr. Kantroo said, “but it can still contain harmful chemicals like diacetyl and heavy metals that irritate the lungs and potentially damage tissues over time.”
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She noted that both smoking and vaping can lead to nicotine addiction, affecting the heart and brain. “Vaping is likely less harmful than smoking because it avoids many of the dangerous chemicals in tobacco smoke. But ‘less harmful’ is not the same as safe,” Dr. Kantroo emphasized.
She warned that the long-term health effects of vaping are still unclear. “E-cigarettes are new, and we don’t fully understand the risks. But we know that even vaping can cause lung issues, heart problems, and potentially interfere with other vital organs,” she said.
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Vaping can be particularly dangerous for young people and pregnant women, impacting brain development and increasing the risk of cigarette smoking later in life.
In conclusion, Dr. Kantroo stressed: “Vaping may be ‘less dangerous’ than cigarettes, but it’s not harmless. The best choice for your health is to quit both smoking and vaping altogether. Seek help if you need it—talk to your doctor or look into support programs.”
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