Selena Gomez says vaping is the reason her voice is different. What do doctors say?
Summary
Selena Gomez, 34, recently stated on social media that vaping nicotine has permanently altered her voice, saying it was "so stupid" and "not worth it," and that she has now quit. She addressed speculation about her voice, noting she cannot change it and telling fans who dislike it not to listen. Doctors confirm that vaping can affect the voice. Dr. Paul Kwak, an otolaryngologist at NYU Langone's Voice Center, explains that vaping delivers hot, dry air and chemicals that dry out and inflame the vocal folds and trachea, forcing compensatory muscle tension that can make the voice deeper, hoarser, or more gravelly, especially noticeable in professional voice users like singers. Dr. Anaïs Rameau adds that repetitive coughing from vaping can also cause vocal changes. Besides voice effects, vaping is linked to worsening asthma, heart damage, lung scarring, EVALI, and changes in the airway microbiome. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm brain development in youth. Long-term health consequences remain unknown because modern vapes are relatively new. The CDC warns there are no safe tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, and advises non-smokers not to start.
(Source:NBC 5 Chicago)