How Long Does It Take For Lungs To Heal From Vaping, And Exactly When Does It Cause Permanent Damage

The impact of vaping on the lungs has now become clearer, and for people who vape often, the findings may cause a strong reaction. Many who use vapes daily might not expect the harm to be as serious as recent reports suggest.

Vaping was first promoted as a healthier swap for traditional cigarettes, and the idea caught on fast. Over the years it has grown into a major trend, especially among younger people who were drawn in by devices that looked modern and felt less harsh than smoking.

Before the rise of disposable vapes, sweet flavors, and eye-catching designs, vaping was mostly known as using an electronic cigarette. These early devices were simple tubes that either looked like a cigarette or were clear cylinders filled with tobacco-flavored liquid, without the variety seen today.

Today, there are countless styles and flavors available, and vape shops seem to appear on every street. The choices feel endless, which may make vaping seem harmless to many users.

Yet as more people vape, hospitals have seen a rise in patients suffering from lung problems linked to vaping. Stories like the man who vaped so constantly he took a puff every ten seconds, or the man whose lung collapsed after nine years of vaping, show how quickly things can go wrong.

These cases have pushed more people to look closely at what vaping may be doing to their bodies long before symptoms even show up.

Lung damage can be reversed at a certain point Prapass Pulsub/ Getty Stock

One serious condition tied to vaping is popcorn lung, a disease that leaves the lungs scarred in a way that cannot be reversed. Once that scarring begins, treatment can help with symptoms, but the damage itself stays.

However, if someone does not develop popcorn lung, there is a chance their lungs may recover from some of the harm caused by vaping. That hope comes from research pointing to the lungs’ natural ability to repair themselves when the injury is not too advanced.

According to Rehab 4 Addiction, “cells in the lung can regenerate, and studies show that the lungs demonstrate remarkable reparative capacity in response to illnesses or injury such as scarring or fibrosis.”

The recovery process varies widely depending on how much damage has already occurred. Factors such as vaping frequency, the strength of the liquid, and even a person’s genetics play a major role in determining whether the lungs can heal or whether the harm becomes permanent.

How long healing takes also changes from person to person. But for those who develop e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury, known as EVALI, the damage often cannot be undone. EVALI is a serious condition, and in many cases the injuries to the lungs remain for life.

Symptoms of EVALI include trouble breathing, sharp chest pain when inhaling, and a persistent cough, all of which can become severe if not treated quickly.

Vaping can cause irreversible damage Peter Dazeley / Contributor/ Getty Stock

In the worst cases, EVALI can cause blood oxygen levels to fall to dangerous levels and can even become life-threatening, although fatal cases remain rare. Doctors warn that the long-term effects of vaping may not be fully understood yet, and more research is needed to reveal the full picture.

Doctor Andrew Freeman, speaking with the University of Utah, explained that experts are still learning about what vaping really does to the body over time.

"Our lungs are not a good organ to absorb substances for recreational use," Freeman said.

"They are an incredible organ, providing our bodies with vital oxygen and exchanging carbon dioxide, all while protecting us from infections and other harmful elements from our environment."

"We all begin to slowly lose lung function after about our early to mid-20s, and yet they must last us a lifetime."

"If people don't take care of their lungs, they really suffer more difficulties breathing later in life due to habits such as vaping."