Everyone knows that smoking is hard on the lungs, but it seems that many people are poised in anticipation, waiting for more research concerning the effects of vapor on our lungs. In particular, the discussion of vaping and bronchitis has both doctors and vapers running in circles waiting for definitive results.

Here's what we know today.

Not All Lungs Are Alike

Perhaps the most important piece of information to consider when it comes to vaping and bronchitis is that not everyone has the same lungs. Since vapors often start out as smokers, there can be vast differences in lung health between someone who only smoked for three years before switching and someone who smoked for 20 years before switching.

In addition, some people grow up with conditions like bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis that are caused by other factors. This has made it exceptionally difficult for researchers to get an apples-to-apples comparison of symptoms and causes between any two groups of vapers.

There Are Many Variables Involved

If you spend your time talking to vapers about their experiences with different kinds of vapor products and bronchitis, you will find a wide range of results. Some people note that high-PG e-liquids make them feel more congested if they have a cold or viral bronchitis to begin with, while others note that MAX VG liquids are the culprit.

Some vapers say that the amount of moisture in the vape causes symptoms, so they try to create a dryer vape when they're showing symptoms of bronchitis to avoid irritating their lungs any more than necessary. Meanwhile, other people say that taking long, full draws on a vape while they're sick helps them open up their lungs and get rid of any congestion by force.

In reality, you may need to spend some time working with different combinations of e-liquids and devices to find one that works for you without making your lungs feel constricted. If you find that nothing is giving you relief, you should cease vaping for two to three weeks and see if the symptoms go away before you try vaping again. Sometimes your lungs simply need a break to recover if you have been doing a lot more vaping than normal.

Make Sure To Go Alcohol Free

While it is hard to say that vaping is the predominant cause of bronchitis among users, there is one particular chemical that has been linked to bronchitis. Diacetyl is an alcohol-based ingredient that is commonly used in butter flavorings.

Years ago it was linked to bronchitis in people who worked full time in popcorn factories, giving them a condition now known as "Popcorn Lung." Some early e-liquid manufacturers were using diacetyl in their e-liquids for pastry and baked good flavors, which caused alarm.

While most manufacturers have moved away from diacetyl and other alcohol-based flavors, you should always check the ingredients list to be sure. You definitely don't want to expose yourself to unnecessary risk with a product that has already been deemed bad for inhalation.

Non-Smokers May Go Through a Transition Period

Almost universally, former smokers who switched to vaping have stated that they were able to give up their inhalers over the first few months of vaping as their lungs gradually cleared up.

Again, there may still be some e-liquids that are irritating, and those should be avoided if you discover that they are the cause of your symptoms. However, non-smokers have mixed results.

The bronchitis-like symptoms they report may be caused by the fact that they have never inhaled a foreign substance in the past, and their body is adjusting to vaping, whereas longtime smokers have become accustomed to the tight feeling in their chest. Most non-smokers who pick up vaping say that the feeling lasts for a couple of weeks until you learn to properly inhale. Then it fades away.

Things are Looking Up!

In all reality, outside of the handful of anecdotes about bronchitis-like symptoms caused by specific e-liquid mixtures, there have been no reports of chronic bronchitis in association with vaping. There also has not been any research indicating that vapor products are responsible for spreading the viral form of the illness. The only link between vaping and bronchitis thus far has been diacetyl, and the industry as a whole was quick to react and reject the ingredient once the health risk was discovered. For vapers who shop from reputable brands like VaporFi, there is minimal risk involved.

We encourage all new vapers to take it slow in the beginning and give your body the time it needs to adjust to the change. Even if you don't have bronchitis, you should move slowly whenever you start experiencing congestion, tightness of the chest or coughing.

Backing off for a little while may give your lungs the time they need to recover before your next session. Plus, you can try experimenting with different blends to find something that works well for you.