Vaping under suspicion: Focus on the risks for your lungs!

Vaping, often viewed as a less harmful alternative to cigarette smoking, still poses significant health risks. According to a report by Chip.de Inhaling e-cigarette vapor can cause respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. In more severe cases, these symptoms can lead to severe lung damage known as vaping-associated lung injuries (VALI). VALI was first recorded in the US in 2019, and several deaths have been attributed to contaminated e-cigarette liquid.

Additionally, studies are increasing awareness of the dangers of vaping, showing that it can increase blood pressure and heart rate and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Flavorings in e-liquids, which can release toxic substances when vaporized, are also harmful to health. An example of this is diacetyl, which can cause the dangerous disease “popcorn lung”. Of particular concern is the rapid delivery of nicotine through vaping, which increases the potential for addiction, particularly among young people. As a result, e-cigarette use among adolescents may increase the risk of later tobacco use.

Severe lung damage and EVALI

Another report from Harvard Health deals with the disease EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury), which has led to serious illnesses and deaths worldwide since the summer of 2019. As of mid-February 2020, the CDC reported over 2,800 cases of lung injury requiring hospitalization and 68 vaping-related deaths. EVALI is an inflammatory reaction caused by inhaled substances and can present in various forms such as pneumonia or fibrinous pneumonitis.

Diagnosing EVALI is challenging because no simple laboratory test is available. Doctors rely on symptoms, vaping product use and lung scans. Vitamin E acetate, a thickener, is strongly associated with EVALI and is often found in counterfeit products. In addition, chemical components such as triglycerides and vegetable oils can be detected in bronchoscopy samples from EVALI patients.

In response to increasing health risks, the CDC and FDA recommend avoiding e-cigarettes or vaping products containing THC, particularly from illegal sources. Massachusetts will ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products starting June 2020, and the U.S. Congress has passed a law banning the sale of tobacco and e-cigarettes to anyone under 21.