Vaping has become the most popular alternative to smoking, as it's often viewed as healthier than tobacco cigarettes.
According to the NHS, e-cigarettes are substantially less harmful than traditional cigarettes but are not risk-free and their long-term health impact is unknown.
However, experts warn that single-use vapes do still pose health risks, while also wreaking havoc on the environment due to litter, plastic waste and fire risk.
Many people make the switch from smoking tobacco to vaping due to health reasons, but one GP has warned that the risks with e-cigarettes are very similar.
Dr Lawrence Cunningham, who is part of the UK Care Guide, has warned people that vaping can have incredibly harmful effects on the body including the lungs and the brain.
He said: "When it comes to vaping, the immediate impression for many is that it's a healthier alternative to traditional smoking, largely because e-cigarettes don't burn, and so don't produce tar and carbon monoxide - two of the most damaging elements in tobacco smoke.
"However, in my experience, this perspective isn't entirely accurate."
When you vape, you inhale an aerosol that's created by the e-cigarette.
The liquid, which usually contains nicotine and flavourings, is heated up and when this happens and can damage the body's cells, tissues and organs.
Dr Cunningham said his 'key concern' was the effect that vaping has on the lungs.
He explained: "Many patients I've encountered who vape frequently have experienced a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, or other respiratory problems. These are often the same issues faced by traditional smokers, albeit to a lesser extent.
"There is increasing evidence that vaping can cause lung disease, including conditions like bronchiolitis obliterans, colloquially known as "popcorn lung," due to the presence of a chemical called diacetyl in some vape juices."
It's not just the lungs that can become damaged from vaping, however. It can also have a negative impact on your cardiovascular system, leading to much bigger health problems.
"Nicotine is a stimulant which can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. Long-term use can lead to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke," Dr Cunningham added.
"I've seen this in some of my older patients who switched from traditional cigarettes to vaping, mistakenly believing it to be risk-free."
Finally, with more and more young people reaching for the vapes, Dr Cunningham has issued a warning that these could be highly damaging to the brain.
He explained: "The nicotine in e-cigarettes can also significantly affect the brain, particularly in younger people. In my practice, I always recommended parents be vigilant about their teenagers' use of these products.
"Nicotine is highly addictive and can hamper brain development in adolescents, impacting learning, memory, and attention."
In a bid to stop these harmful effects as well as the damage they're causing to the environment, the Daily Record has led calls to ban disposable vapes after our streets and beaches became dumping grounds for e-cigarettes.
It has received huge backing from the likes of the Green Party and Zero Waste Scotland, as well as the country's leading child doctors, who are all keen to see the harmful products removed from shop shelves.
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