
Some of the reported cases of e-cigarette-associated pulmonary illnesses include spontaneous pneumothorax, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, organizing pneumonia, and acute exogenous lipoid pneumonia [ 12 - 14 ].
Is vaping bad for you and your health?
Vaping has risks, regardless of what you vape. Starting to use e-cigarettes, or switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, increases your risk of devastating health effects. The safest option, according to the American Cancer Society, is to avoid both vaping and smoking altogether.
Is vaping as addictive as smoking cigarettes?
Well, for all of the same reasons, vaping doesn’t appear to be as addictive as smoking either. One key point raised by Tom Pruen is the speed of nicotine delivery.
What is vaping and how does it affect you?
“Vaping is a delivery system similar to a nebulizer, which people with asthma or other lung conditions may be familiar with,” says Broderick. “A nebulizer turns liquid medicine into a mist that patients breathe in. It’s a highly effective way of delivering medicine to the lungs.” The Chemicals You Inhale When Vaping
Is vaping really safe alternative to smoking cigarettes?
When it comes to comparisons, vaping is certainly a more safe alternative to smoking. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t come without certain risks, which are important to understand.

What illnesses are caused by vaping?
E-cigarettes produce a number of dangerous chemicals including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. These aldehydes can cause lung disease, as well as cardiovascular (heart) disease. E-cigarettes also contain acrolein, a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds.
What are 3 harmful effects of vaping?
The most commonly-reported adverse effects were throat/mouth irritation, headache, cough, and nausea, which tended to dissipate with continued use....The most common side effects of vaping include:coughing.dry mouth and throat.shortness of breath.mouth and throat irritation.headaches.
What are 5 harmful effects of vaping?
Serious vaping side effects may include:Nicotine addiction.Severe lung injury.Seizures.Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), formerly known as idiopathic bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP)Popcorn lung.Strokes.Heart attacks.
What does vaping do to your brain?
Brain Risks These risks include nicotine addiction, mood disorders, and permanent lowering of impulse control. Nicotine also changes the way synapses are formed, which can harm the parts of the brain that control attention and learning.
Can vaping cause COPD?
Does Vaping Cause COPD? Yes, you can get COPD from vaping. Tobacco smoke contains hundreds of harmful chemicals that can lead to COPD and worsen symptoms.
What are the symptoms of vape poisoning?
Vaping-Related Illness: How To Catch Symptoms Before It's Too...Persistent cough.Chest pain.Shortness of breath.Some users may even experience diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and fatigue before any breathing problems develop.
Can too much vaping make you sick?
It's important to know your limits when it comes to vaping, especially if you are new to using nicotine. Your tolerance may not be as high as those that vape or smoke more regularly, so start low and slow. Consuming too much nicotine can cause negative side effects, including: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or stomach ache.
Whats worse smoking or vaping?
The problem is that there are big health risks with both habits. Both smoking and vaping involve nicotine, which is very addictive. Smoking has been proven to cause cancer, which can kill you. But vaping has been proven to cause serious lung illness, which can also kill you.
How does nicotine affect the brain?
Nicotine negatively affects how synapses—connections between brain cells —are formed. Many devices also produce vapor containing lead, which can cause brain damage.
Can you get sick from smoking e-cigarettes?
You may have trouble breathing, experience excessive coughing, chest pain, nausea, fatigue, vomiting and even fever from excessive e-cigarette use. In more severe cases or throughage, you may even need to be hospitalized.
Is vaping bad for you?
Due to its fairly recent rise in popularity, unfortunately many of the long-term health effects of vaping have yet to be diagnosed ...
Is vaping dangerous?
Due to its fairly recent rise in popularity, unfortunately many of the long-term health effects of vaping have yet to be diagnosed and studied. Still, preliminary research does show a few health and safety risks linked to vaping. Provided by. Vaping was designed to be addictive. Vaping manufacturers knowingly put you at risk.
Does vaping affect your heart?
Vaping nicotine can also affect your heart health. Nicotine raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, resulting in increased heart rate and greater risk of a heart attack. The potential for coronary artery disease and blood circulation problems are also increased.
Is vaping oil harmful to your lungs?
Because you are inhaling nicotine or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) through e-cigarettes, the main risk associated with use relates to the lungs. Vape oils consist of a host of chemicals and metals that may be harmful to your lungs including: nickel, tin, lead, flavorings like diacetyl, and other ultra-fine particles.
How many deaths are linked to vaping?
Currently, 26 deaths linked to vaping have been confirmed in 21 states. . “Unfortunately, this may be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the escalating health threat this outbreak poses to the American public, particularly youth and young adults.
What percentage of people with vaping illnesses use THC?
About 77 percent of people with vaping-related illnesses used products that contained THC or a mix of both THC and nicotine. Only around 16 percent of those who got sick said they used products that contained nicotine but not THC.
Why is THC in vaping?
THC is the main psychoactive compound in marijuana and is responsible for the feeling of being high.
How long have e-cigarettes been around?
E-cigarettes — battery-powered devices that heat liquids with substances such as nicotine and marijuana — have been around for more than a decade. But reports of vaping-related illnesses started showing up in April with cases dramatically rising starting in July. Since then, the number of cases has grown steadily.
Should I stop vaping?
With the number of vaping-related illnesses continuing to rise, Labaki recommends that people stop vaping immediately.
Does the CDC work with the FDA?
CDC will continue to work with FDA and state health partners to investigate the cause, or causes, of this outbreak and to bring an end to these lung injuries.”. The CDC is working with state and local governments to locate if there’s a particular line or device that’s linked to these illnesses.
Do people who use e-cigarettes need medical attention?
The CDC says that people who use e-cigarettes should seek medical care promptly if they experience any symptoms seen in these cases.
How to contact CDC about e-cigarettes?
If you have questions about CDC’s investigation into the lung injuries associated with use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products, contact CDC-INFO or call 1-800-232-4636.
When will vaping peak?
Emergency department (ED) visits related to e-cigarette, or vaping, products continue to decline, after sharply increasing in August 2019 and peaking in September.
How many deaths from evali in 2020?
As of February 18, 2020, a total of 2,807 hospitalized EVALI cases or deaths have been reported to CDC from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands). Sixty-eight deaths have been confirmed in 29 states and the District of Columbia (as of February 18, 2020).
What is an e-cigarette?
Using an e-cigarette is commonly called vaping. E-cigarettes work by heating a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs.
Is vitamin E acetate linked to the eli outbreak?
Vitamin E acetate is strongly linked to the EVALI outbreak. Vitamin E acetate has been found in product samples tested by FDA and state laboratories and in patient lung fluid samples tested by CDC from geographically diverse states. Vitamin E acetate has not been found in the lung fluid of people that do not have EVALI.
When is the next vaping hospital admission?
Dates of symptom onset and hospital admission for patients with lung injury associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping — United States, March 31, 2019–February 15, 2020. Numbers do not sum to 2,807 due to missing admission dates.
Who monitors e-cigarettes?
CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and other clinical and public health partners are continuing to monitor e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).
How many teens are vaping in 2018?
Health Risks Among Teens. An estimated 3.6 million middle school and high school students reported vaping in 2018, up from 2.1 million the year before. If trends hold steady, that number will continue to rise. Teens and young adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of vaping products, especially those containing nicotine.
Why do electronic cigarettes explode?
Injuries. Electronic cigarettes use lithium-ion batteries to heat coils and produce an aerosol. On rare occasions, those batteries can malfunction, causing the device to overheat, catch fire, or even explode.
What is electronic cigarette?
Commonly referred to as “vaping,” these products use an aerosolized vapor infused with flavors or nicotine that are then inhaled by the user.
How does an e-cigarette work?
Unlike cigarettes that work by burning to bacco and producing smoke, e-cigarettes heat up liquid to create vapor. A lot of different companies make e-cigarette products, and the kinds of ingredients found in some liquid cartridges can differ from one brand to the next. Some of the most common harmful substances found in vaping products include ...
Is vaping legal in 2020?
As of Feb. 1, 2020, the FDA has banned the manufacture and sale of flavored vaping products (excluding menthol and tobacco). 1 . However, the criteria for product acceptance can still be as loose as it “ does not raise different questions of public health ” compared to an existing tobacco product.
Does vaping affect blood flow?
Another concern flagged by recent research is the potential harm vaping might have on cardiovascular health. Some chemicals found in e-cigs, such as nicotine, can affect blood flow. Studies show that regular use of electronic cigarettes could increase your chances of heart attack, stroke, and even heart disease. In fact, research shows e-cig users are almost twice as likely to experience a heart attack compared to non-users, even when analysts controlled for other known risk factors, including smoking status.
Do electronic cigarettes affect health?
Not much is known about how electronic cigarettes affect long-term health. They’re still too new, and a lot more research is needed. Recent studies, however, have started to find connections between using electronic cigarettes and serious or chronic health issues, including COPD and heart attacks.
What is e-cigarette lung injury?
Eventually, researchers tied these cases to vaping. The illness is now called e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury(EVALI). Doctors and researchers are still working to learn more about this condition, including its exact causes and long-term effects.
Is vaping a good alternative to smoking?
Electronic cigaretteswere originally designed as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. But it turns out smokinge-cigarettes -- commonly known as vaping-- has its own risks.
Can evali cause breathing problems?
Someone with EVALI may have breathingand digestive problems, along with other symptoms, including:
What kind of vapes did Justin use?
Justin had been using a Juul device and mint-flavored nicotine pods, his favorite. He bought mostly Juul products, plus the occasional off-brands available at stores. He would puff on the mint vapes constantly, draining about two pods a day.
How long did Justin Wilson vape?
Justin Wilson, 25, vaped for about a year and then suddenly collapsed, unable to breathe, on Sept. 1. He had to spend a week in a hospital in Portland, Oregon. Courtesy Jake Wilson. Sept. 13, 2019, 7:40 AM PDT / Source: TODAY. By A. Pawlowski.
What are the symptoms of a syringe?
Any new respiratory symptom should be reason for concern, including: 1 coughing 2 shortness of breath 3 chest tightness 4 wheezing 5 general symptoms like extreme fatigue or fever are also warning signs.
Is vaping safe for kids?
Vaping is not as safe as people thought it was, said Dr. Humberto Choi, a pulmonologist and critical care specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. Choi has treated several of the vaping-related illnesses and has recently been inundated by calls from parents worried their children are exhibiting worrisome symptoms.
Will Justin go back to vaping?
Another theory is that the heated vapor returned to oil form inside the cooler human body, his father said. “There’s no way” Justin will go back to vaping, he said. Family friends are now throwing away their vape pens after learning about the ordeal, Jake Wilson added.
Can e-liquid cause lipoid pneumonia?
Because the e-liquids can contain oils, there’s concern about the potential for lipoid pneumonia — an inflammation of the lungs caused by oils — but that’s not the pattern Choi has seen at the Cleveland Clinic. Nor are black-market products necessarily to blame: Some of Choi's patients have only used a regular branded vaping device, not something tainted or bought on the street.
What is THC in vaping?
In many cases, patients told healthcare personnel or health department staff of recent use of vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, a psychoactive component of the marijuana plant).
How to report a problem with tobacco?
If you experience a problem with any tobacco product, such as an unexpected health or safety issue, report it online using the Safety Reporting Portal. You may submit reports about any tobacco product, including cigarettes, roll-your-own cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes and waterpipe tobacco. You can also report problems with the components and parts of tobacco products. The FDA website has more information on what to include in a report.
What chemicals are analyzed by the FDA?
The FDA is analyzing samples submitted by a number of states for the presence of a broad range of chemicals, including nicotine, THC and other cannabinoids, along with cutting agents/diluents and other additives, pesticides, opioids, poisons, heavy metals and toxins .
Is the FDA concerned about respiratory illnesses?
The FDA remains deeply concerned about these respiratory illnesses and deaths and is working closely with the CDC, as well as state and local public health partners, to investigate them as quickly as possible.
Is vaping linked to respiratory illness?
While some cases in each of the states are similar and appear to be linked to vaping product use, more information is needed to determine what is causing the respiratory illnesses.
Is there one substance in all samples tested?
No one substance has been identified in all of the samples tested. Importantly, identifying any compounds that are present in the samples will be one piece of the puzzle but will not necessarily answer questions about what is causing these illnesses.
Is the FDA following any potential leads?
Federal and state partners are following any potential leads, and the FDA is committed to taking appropriate actions as the facts emerge and keeping the public informed as we have more information to share.
How many cases of lung disease are linked to e-cigarettes?
As of October 3rd, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is reporting approximately 1,080 cases of severe lung illness linked to the use of “e-cigarettes.”. According to the CDC, about 78% of these patients have admitted to recent use of THC vaping products. Three types of pulmonary injury are being seen in these cases — lipoid ...
Why do people vape in Missouri?
Missouri (reported September 19th) — The MO Department of Health & Senior Services reported that a man in his mid-40s started vaping because of “chronic pain issues.” This is almost assuredly related to THC or CBD products.
When did the FDA stop warning about THC?
Hours after the CDC’s press conference on September 6th, the FDA ‘broke’ with the CDC and issued an alert specifically warning about THC vaping products. On October 4th, the FDA reissued their alert with updated information.
How old is too old to vape in New York?
New York: As of September 6, 2019, the NY State Department of Health claims it has received 38 reports from New York State physicians of severe pulmonary illness among patients ranging from 15 to 46 years of age who were using at least one cannabis-containing vape product before they became ill.
Can you quit smoking with store bought vapes?
No adult smoker should be scared off from using store-bought nicotine vaping products to quit or reduce smoking. Nor should any vaper be misled into believing that relapsing back to smoking is a better option than continuing to vape.
Does cannabis have vitamin E?
On September 5th, the New York State Department of Health reported that laboratory test results showed “very high levels of vitamin E acetate in nearly all cannabis-containing samples” they tested. For each patient who submitted a product, at least one of their cartridges contained vitamin E acetate, which is used as a thickening agent in illicit cartridges. For more on vitamin E acetate, see the reporting of David Downs of Leafly.
Is smoking a cause of COPD?
With the vast majority of COPD cases being linked to cigarette smoking, today is a perfect day to educate adult smokers and their loved ones about smoke-free alternatives.
What are the health risks of smoking e-cigarettes?
The device is made up of a mouthpiece, liquid tank, a heating element, and a battery. E-cigarette use may pose health risks in the form of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. These health risks have implications to not only the primary user, but the aerosols can also cause secondhand and thirdhand injuries to others in the vicinity. Acute lung injury may also be associated with the use of e-cigarettes, but the underlying cause remains unknown. Clinicians, including hospitalists, pulmonologists, intensivists, medical examiners, pathologists, and the like, should report possible cases as the medical community continues to assess the health risks of e-cigarette use.
What are the symptoms of e-cigarette use?
Most of the patients in their study presented with shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain [12]. The severity of the illness varied from mild shortness of breath requiring oxygen supplementation via nasal cannula to severe debilitating respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation [12,13]. Five patients identified in July and August 2019 had acute lung injury associated with e-cigarette use. These patients were identified in two different hospitals in North Carolina, all were admitted for hypoxemic respiratory failure. All the patients reported a history of recent e-cigarette use. They were initially admitted for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), but their symptoms worsened with conventional treatment for CAP. They were eventually diagnosed with acute exogenous lipoid pneumonia [13]. Another patient had presented with shortness of breath; investigations yielded a diagnosis of spontaneous pneumothorax. An 18-year-old patient had no history of cigarette smoking but endorsed daily use of e-cigarettes. The patient then had a recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax. He had no significant medical or surgical history to increase his propensity for spontaneous pneumothorax [14].
What is an e-cigarette?
This raises significant health concerns [1]. Simply put, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are electronic devices designed to vaporize chemical compounds. These devices have different components, including a mouthpiece, a liquid tank, a heating element, and a battery [2]. They come in various shapes, sizes, and device types, and are known by different names to different users. The most common terminologies include e-cigs, vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, mods, tanks, or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The process of using the devices is sometimes referred to as vaping or juuling, the latter so named for the particular device brand [3].
Why is it important to understand the nature and attitude of e-cigarettes use among young adults?
Understanding the nature and attitude of e-cigarettes use among young adults is very important as this is the period when they transition into social contexts (e.g., college, peer pressure, and workplace) often resulting in an increased prevalence in substance use and the development of addictive patterns [18] . This raises a public health concern as it suggests that the younger generations of users, which have the highest rates of electronic cigarettes use, might become addicted to these devices despite unknown long-term physiologic and pathologic consequences [19].
Does vaping cause ground glass opacities?
Chest computed tomography scans obtained from patients with vaping-associated lung disease showed significant findings. Ground-glass opacities seem to be a common finding in the imaging studies of most patients with e-cigarette-associated lung disease [16,17].
Is vaping associated with pulmonary disease?
So far, most of the literature on vaping-associated pulmonary disease we have are case reports and case series. A high index of suspicion is paramount as there are reports of patients that rapidly progressed to acute respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation [3]. The use of ENDS continues to grow in the United States. For example, while the use of combustible tobacco cigarettes has declined significantly, the United States ENDS market now exceeds 8 billion dollars [4]. At the moment, there are regular advertisements for e-cigarettes, promoting them as viable and safe alternatives to cigarettes smoking despite an absence of any studies to prove superior efficacy to conventional smoking cessation strategies already studied, such as nicotine replacement, bupropion hydrochloride, varenicline, and counseling [5]. E-cigarettes use may pose health risks in the form of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Tobacco cigarette smoking is the primary cause of preventable cardiovascular death in the United States, and smoking cessation has long been the focus of significant public health efforts. The rates of tobacco smoking in the United States have continued to decline and reached historic lows according to a Surgeon General report in 2014. However, with this decline, the use of electronic cigarettes, introduced in 2007, has markedly increased, especially among young people [6]. Healthcare providers should be on the alert for symptoms suggestive of acute lung injury secondary to vaping and remind patients that even though some e-cigarettes contain nicotine, they are currently not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a cessation aid for smokers. Clinicians, including hospitalists, pulmonologists, medical examiners, primary care physicians, pathologists, and the like, are reminded to report possible cases [3,7]. People should consider not using e-cigarettes. This is especially the case for high-risk groups, including those without prior experiences, teenagers, pregnant women/nursing mothers, or adults who do not currently use oral tobacco products. These health risks have implications to not only the primary user, but the aerosols can also cause secondhand and thirdhand injuries to others in the vicinity. However, the regulations for public e-cigarette use vary across states and are inconsistent across cities within certain states. These variations in restrictions exist in both locations and types of product use, public versus private use, and types of products allowed in certain places [7]. Consumers in most states must be 18 years or older to purchase the device, although underage sales have been reported in retailers and online. The Food and Drug Administration has expressed concerns that certain flavored e-cigarettes are appealing to youth who may be unaware of the products’ addictiveness and some others who may have never tried a nicotine product [8]. There are many compounds in the aerosols and liquids and the selling point mostly used is that it can serve as a “Healthier” alternative to tobacco smoking even though the Food and Drug Administration has not approved this. The American Cancer Society discourages the dual use of electronic cigarettes and cigarettes because such use has not resulted in reduced exposures to the harmful effects of smoking [9,10]. Flavoring was considered by most users as the most important reason for vaping [10]. Over the past year, the Center for Disease Control has drawn attention to severe pulmonary disease associated with the use of electronic cigarette products. There have been reports of more than 200 cases associated with the use of these devices, using both known and unknown products [11]. The exact cause of these findings is still uncertain. Available data have been either case reports or case series. Some of the reported cases of e-cigarette-associated pulmonary illnesses include spontaneous pneumothorax, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, organizing pneumonia, and acute exogenous lipoid pneumonia [12-14].
