If you’ve ever wondered whether vaping hits your lungs harder than smoking, you’re definitely not alone. It’s one of the most common questions people ask when weighing these two options—and honestly, the answer isn’t as black-and-white as you might think. Let’s cut to the chase, though: No, vaping isn’t worse for your lungs than smoking traditional cigarettes. But that doesn’t mean vaping is “safe”—let’s break this down properly.

Here’s the key difference: Cigarettes burn tobacco, and that burning process is where the real lung damage happens. When you smoke a cigarette, you’re inhaling hundreds of toxic chemicals—tar, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and benzene, just to name a few. Tar coats your lung tissue over time, clogging airways and increasing the risk of lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Carbon monoxide cuts off oxygen to your lungs (and the rest of your body), putting extra strain on your respiratory system. It’s a straight-up assault on your lungs, no two ways about it.

Vaping, on the other hand, works by heating e-liquid instead of burning it. So you’re not getting that tar or carbon monoxide—huge wins for lung health right there. But here’s the catch: Heating e-liquid (which usually has PG, VG, flavorings, and sometimes nicotine) still creates some harmful substances, like small amounts of aldehydes. And certain flavorings? Stuff like diacetyl (found in some buttery or sweet flavors) can cause “popcorn lung,” a serious, irreversible lung condition. So vaping isn’t risk-free—just way less damaging than smoking.

Public health organizations like Public Health England back this up: They’ve found vaping is around 95% less harmful than smoking. The WHO also acknowledges that vaping is less risky than traditional cigarettes, even as they warn against non-smokers taking it up. The bottom line? If you’re a smoker looking to cut down on lung damage, switching to vaping is a better choice—but the safest option overall is still quitting nicotine entirely.

If you do decide vaping is the right step for you (as a smoker looking to reduce harm), choosing a trusted brand matters more than anything. Our vapes are designed with lung safety in mind: We use food-grade PG/VG in all our e-liquids, skip harmful flavor additives like diacetyl, and have transparent ingredient lists so you know exactly what you’re inhaling. Our devices also come with adjustable temperature control—no overheating, which means fewer harmful chemicals released. It’s about making the less risky choice as safe and straightforward as possible for you.