You may have swapped cigarettes for a vape thinking it’s safer—especially if it’s nicotine-free. But new research reveals that even nicotine-free vaping can damage blood vessels, raising the risk of heart disease and circulation problems.

Unlike cigarettes, vapes don’t produce smoke or tar. Instead, they heat a liquid—usually a mix of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin—into an aerosol you inhale. While these ingredients are safe to eat, inhaling them can harm your lungs and airways, causing coughing, shortness of breath, and inflammation.

Flavorings add another layer of risk. Chemicals like diacetyl (linked to popcorn lung), benzaldehyde, and trace heavy metals from vape coils are all found in e-cigarettes—even those without nicotine.