The lung damage he has seen in patients is the equivalent to someone smoking cigarettes for decades. "It literally can kill you the first time you try it," he says. He says the liquid chemicals are the culprit. When they are all flash heated at once, no one can predict what you are about to breathe in.

While "one puff" of a vape is unlikely to cause permanent, long-term health damage to a healthy adult, it is not entirely harmless. Vaping delivers a concentrated dose of nicotine, which is highly addictive and can cause an immediate spike in blood pressure and heart rate. For a non-smoker or a teenager, a single puff can cause dizziness, coughing, or nausea as the lungs react to foreign aerosols and chemicals like propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. The "vapor" also contains trace amounts of heavy metals and flavoring chemicals (like diacetyl) that can irritate the delicate lining of the lungs. The primary danger of that "one puff" is the behavioral aspect; nicotine is designed to trigger the brain's reward system, making it very easy for a single experimental puff to lead to a regular habit. For individuals with underlying respiratory issues like asthma, even a small amount of aerosol can trigger an immediate bronchospasm or inflammation. It is a misconception that vaping is just "flavored water vapor."