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Selena Gomez Opens Up About Vaping: Here’s What Nicotine Really Does to Your Body

Photograph of Selena Gomez wearing a lime green dress

Health & Wellness

By: Kaia Bonner

Singer and actress Selena Gomez recently opened up about her experience with vaping, sharing that nicotine has changed her voice and quitting has been harder than expected.

While vaping is often seen as the “safer” alternative to smoking cigarettes, it still comes with major health risks, especially when nicotine is involved.

How vaping affects the body

Vaping involves inhaling an aerosol produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device. These aerosols can contain nicotine, harmful chemicals, and tiny particles that reach deep into the lungs.

Some of the potential side effects include:

  • Lung irritation: Vaping can cause coughing, throat irritation, and breathing problems.
  • Nicotine addiction: Nicotine is highly addictive, making it difficult to stop using vaping products.
  • Heart concerns: Nicotine can temporarily increase heart rate and blood pressure, putting additional stress on the cardiovascular system.
  • Voice changes: Vaping can irritate the throat and vocal cords potentially leading to hoarseness, dryness, or changes in how the voice sounds.

Breaking the nicotine habit

Nicotine is highly addictive, making it difficult to quit, even for those who want to. Withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and strong cravings can make the process even more challenging.

However, quitting can improve overall health by reducing exposure to substances that affect the lungs and heart.

Gomez’s experience shows that breaking a nicotine addiction isn’t always easy, but choosing to quit is a positive step toward better health.

Image credit: Cosmopolitan UK, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons