Vaping trap: A fading breath beneath the flavors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53685/jshmdc.v7i1.486Keywords:
Vaping, E-cigarettes, flavor, Popcorn lungsAbstract
Electronic cigarettes, commonly called vapes, have become very popular especially among young people in recent years. Many users believe that vaping is a safe or less harmful choice compared to traditional cigarettes, but this thinking is not fully supported by the available evidence. The appealing flavors, colorful packaging, and social media promotion have played a big role in attracting adolescents and even children toward these products. Emerging research is now showing that vaping can cause serious damage to the lungs, heart, and other body systems, and nicotine addiction can begin very quickly. There is a strong need for better public awareness, stricter regulations, and more research to protect especially the younger generation from falling into this trap.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sadaf Saleem Uppal, Dr Adeela Shahid

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