The singer says nicotine vapes altered how she sounds. Here's what happens to your voice box when you vape, and when to get checked.
Selena Gomez has been fielding questions online about why her voice sounds different. This week, she answered them herself. In an Instagram Story posted on October 18, the 34-year-old said she vaped nicotine heavily, that it was a mistake, and that her voice is not going back.
She admitted nicotine is incredibly hard to quit, urged anyone considering vaping to skip it, and shared that she has recently stopped and is hoping to stay that way. She didn't say when she started or how long she vaped.
Her experience points to something most people don't think about when they pick up a vape, your voice.
Also Read: Selena Gomez reveals vaping changed her voice, says 'it's really hard' to quit
How your voice works
Sound is made when air from your lungs moves past the vocal folds (also called vocal cords) inside the larynx, or voice box. The folds vibrate, and that vibration becomes your voice. Because they sit at the top of the windpipe, anything you inhale passes right over them. That includes vape aerosol.
What vaping does to them
Many people assume vaping is gentle compared to smoking, that is not true for vocal health. The aerosol is hot and dry, and it can irritate and inflame the lining of the airway while drying out the tissues that keep the vocal folds soft and flexible.
When the folds are dry and swollen, the body compensates. Surrounding muscles tighten and strain to push out sound, which makes the voice less efficient and changes how it sounds. The result can be a voice that is lower, rougher or raspier than before.
Frequent vaping can also trigger persistent coughing, which adds further stress to the vocal folds.
Singers and others who rely on their voices tend to spot these changes first, since their work demands a lot of flexibility and control.
Also Read: You don't have to smoke to pay the price
When to see a doctor
Voices naturally change, especially after a cold. But if hoarseness or any other change lasts more than a week, Kwak recommends getting it examined.
Beyond the voice
Gomez's voice is only one part of the picture. Vaping has been tied to:
- Heart and blood vessel strain: Each puff raises the heart rate and narrows blood vessels, and over time this can stiffen the arteries. Cardiologists say heavy, all-day vaping can leave the body in a state similar to high blood pressure, which may raise the risk of irregular heartbeat, stroke and heart attack. When vape liquids are heated, they can also release formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, known cancer-linked chemicals that inflame and damage blood vessels.
- Lung problems: Worsening asthma, heart damage and lung scarring. Vaping can cause long-lasting inflammation in the airways, aggravate COPD symptoms, and lead to a stubborn cough and breathlessness.
- EVALUATION: A serious lung injury first identified in 2019 that can be fatal. The 2019 outbreak was linked to vapes containing vitamin E acetate and caused 68 deaths. Separately, “popcorn lung” has been reported in rare cases after inhaling diacetyl, a flavoring compound, although major brands now say they don't use it.
- Heavy metals: A 2025 study of popular disposable vapes found they released high levels of nickel and antimony, metals linked to lung cancer, along with large amounts of lead, a neurotoxin. The readings were so high that one researcher initially suspected the equipment had malfunctioned. Flavoring chemicals in disposables may also damage cell membranes, adding to the risk of lung and heart disease.
- Gum disease: Nicotine reduces blood flow to the gums and can damage gum tissue, making infections more likely.
- Possible changes to the airway's microbiome, which may weaken the respiratory tract's defenses
- A strong pull towards addiction: Most vapes contain nicotine, which alters brain chemistry and drives cravings. Researchers who work with teenagers have seen young users keep vapes under their pillows and reach for them first thing in the morning. Newer products are also stronger: some devices are advertised at around 20,000 puffs, an amount said to rival roughly 100 packs of cigarettes. Quitting can be tough, with withdrawal bringing anxiety, low mood, irritability and, at times, a faster heart rate and higher blood pressure.
- Harm to a developing fetus's heart and brain when used in pregnancy, and to brain development in teenagers and young adults, with a higher risk of addiction to other drugs later
- Cancer-causing chemicals in the aerosol that reach deep into the lungs. Kwak notes it's still unclear how they compare with cigarettes, and experts point out that vapes don't contain the same toxins as cigarettes but come with harms of their own.
Also Read: Is your joint pain a sign of arthritis?
Why the long-term picture is still unclear
Modern vapes are too new for researchers to know the full toll. They also keep changing, and many users are teenagers or in their twenties, so some effects may take years to show. Many people use both cigarettes and vapes, which makes it harder to separate the harm from each. The CDC is clear that no tobacco product, e-cigarettes included, is safe, and the FDA advises adults who have never smoked not to start.
Gomez's story is a reminder that “safer than smoking” doesn't mean safe. If you vape and notice a lasting change in your voice, or you're ready to quit, talk to a doctor. Quitting is difficult, but it's worth it.
Published: 20 Oct 2026, 03:59 pm IST
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
More from this author
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.