Information  /  Vaping side effects

Vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk-free. Some people notice short-term side effects, and the long-term health effects are still being studied.

Last reviewed: 27th September 2026

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NHS guidance lists common side effects including coughing, dry mouth or throat, mouth and throat irritation, shortness of breath and headaches. This is a list of possible effects, not an estimate of how common each symptom is in Wales. There is no robust current national Welsh estimate for the proportion of adult vapers experiencing each side effect.

If vaping is helping an adult stop smoking, side effects should be discussed before abandoning vaping and returning to cigarettes.

Vape aerosol is not harmless and can irritate the airways. However, the current evidence shows that people who vape are exposed to much lower levels of harmful substances than people who smoke.

The long-term health effects of vaping are not yet fully known because vaping has not been used for as many decades as cigarettes. Current evidence still indicates that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking, particularly for adults who switch completely away from cigarettes.

Smoking exposes people to a large number of toxic chemicals created by burning tobacco. Vaping avoids combustion, which is why exposure to harmful substances linked with cancer, respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease is much lower than with smoking.

That does not mean the long-term risk from vaping is zero. The evidence continues to be monitored as products and patterns of use change.

The biggest health benefit comes from stopping cigarettes completely. Continuing to smoke while vaping still exposes you to the serious harms of tobacco smoke.

If vaping is part of your quit attempt, do not let manageable side effects push you back to cigarettes. A stop-smoking adviser or reputable specialist retailer may be able to help with nicotine strength, device choice or how you vape.

Seek medical advice if symptoms are severe, persistent or worrying, or if you are not sure whether vaping is the cause. Urgent symptoms such as severe breathing difficulty, collapse or severe chest pain need urgent medical assessment.

If you are concerned that a vape may be illegal, has been sold illegally, or you have concerns about a shop, seller or online account, report it anonymously through No Ifs. No Butts. You do not need proof, and you should not investigate or confront a seller yourself.

If you think a vape has caused a side effect or product safety problem, you can report it through the UK Yellow Card scheme.

Children and young people should not vape. The main concerns include nicotine dependence, repeated use and exposure to substances they do not need. School and family responses should be accurate about risk: vaping is not harmless, but presenting it as equally harmful as smoking is not supported by the evidence.