Vaping FAQs

can vaping cause pneumothorax

by Dr. Colton Stokes Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Smoking is a well-known risk factor for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. There has been evidence that vaping has also been a risk factor and not a safer alternative to traditional smoking. Cessation is always advised with anyone at risk for spontaneous pneumothorax.

Full Answer

Does vaping harm your lungs?

“Vaping involves inhaling a vapor produced by an e-cigarette device deep into your lungs. Vaping devices contain an oil, often called vape juice, to which nicotine and any number of potentially harmful chemicals are added for flavoring or to create a certain aroma, like cotton candy or blueberry. Vape liquids can do irreparable harm to the lungs and other parts of the body.”

What are the signs and symptoms of pneumothorax?

The symptoms of pneumothorax can vary from mild to life-threatening and may include:

  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain, which may be more severe on one side of the chest
  • sharp pain when inhaling
  • pressure in the chest that gets worse over time
  • blue discoloration of the skin or lips
  • increased heart rate
  • rapid breathing
  • confusion or dizziness
  • loss of consciousness or coma

What does vaping do to your lungs?

Vaping-related Lung Injury

  • Risks related to vaping. Exposure to nicotine: Nicotine is highly addictive, can harm adolescent brain development, and is toxic to fetuses.
  • Symptoms of vaping-related lung injury. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION if you, or someone you know, are experiencing these symptoms. ...
  • Additional information. ...

What can cause a pneumothorax?

Pneumothorax can be caused by a chest injury, such as a car crash. It can also happen by accident during a medical procedure, when a needle is inserted into the chest. Acupuncture needles can cause a pneumothorax if they puncture the lining of the lung.

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Can Vapes cause lung problems?

Lung disease: Vaping can make asthma and other existing lung diseases worse. Breathing in the harmful chemicals from vaping products can cause irreversible (cannot be cured) lung damage, lung disease and, in some cases, death.

Can you get pneumothorax from smoking?

This happens when an air-filled blister (bleb) on the lung ruptures and releases air into the pleural space. People who smoke cigarettes are much more likely to develop a pneumothorax than those who don't. Also, the more you smoke, the greater your chances are of having a pneumothorax.

Does vaping cause lung blebs?

It is possible that chronic vaping may also lead to bleb formation.

How long can a pneumothorax last?

If the pneumothorax is small, the leak usually heals itself and the trapped air is gradually absorbed by your body. This normally takes 1-2 weeks.

How come when I vape my chest hurts?

There are some common symptoms of EVALI, including persistent cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath. As vaping and e-cigarettes have grown in popularity in recent years, so has e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).

How do you know if your lung is collapsing from vaping?

Symptoms of vaping-related lung illness include shortness of breath, fever, nausea, gastrointestinal issues, and weight loss. The symptoms can appear days or weeks after vaping as well as in people who have vaped for years.

How long does vaping take to damage lungs?

Exposure for just three days was enough to incur sufficient damage to their lungs, setting the stage for long-term chronic lung damage.

Is vaping worse than smoking?

1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.

What caused pneumothorax?

A pneumothorax can be caused by a blunt or penetrating chest injury, certain medical procedures, or damage from underlying lung disease. Or it may occur for no obvious reason. Symptoms usually include sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. On some occasions, a collapsed lung can be a life-threatening event.

Who is at risk for spontaneous pneumothorax?

In most cases of spontaneous pneumothorax, the cause is unknown. Tall and thin adolescent males are typically at greatest risk, but females can also have this condition. Other risk factors include connective tissue disorders, smoking, and activities such as scuba diving, high altitudes and flying.

Can working out cause pneumothorax?

Although rare, weightlifting can be a cause of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Surgical correction is required for a large pneumothorax to avoid recurrence.

What happens if you smoke with a punctured lung?

A punctured lung usually won't cause any future health complications if it's treated quickly. However, if the collapse was caused by trauma to your lung, it's possible for the condition to occur again. You're also more likely to experience another punctured lung if you smoke.

What is the chemical that can damage your lungs?

Acrolein: Most often used as a weed killer, this chemical can also damage lungs.

What is a vape pen?

With vaping, a device (typically a vape pen or a mod — an enhanced vape pen — that may look like a flash drive) heats up a liquid ( called vape juice or e -liquid) until it turns into a vapor that you inhale. “Vaping is a delivery system similar to a nebulizer, which people with asthma or other lung conditions may be familiar with,” says Broderick. ...

What happens if you inhale diacetyl?

Diacetyl is frequently added to flavored e-liquid to enhance the taste. Inhaling diacetyl causes inflammation and may lead to permanent scarring in the smallest branches of the airways — popcorn lung — which makes breathing difficult. Popcorn lung has no lasting treatment. There are, however, treatments that manage BO symptoms, such as: 1 Coughing 2 Wheezing 3 Chest pain 4 Shortness of breath

What to do if your lung hurts?

What to Do If Your Lungs Hurt. If you smoke or vape, don’t brush off chest or lung pain as something that’s normal. If you have pain or other symptoms associated with breathing difficulties, such as shortness of breath and chronic cough, it’s important to see a doctor.

What is the condition called when you get sick from eating popcorn?

“Popcorn lung” is another name for bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), a rare condition that results from damage of the lungs’ small airways. BO was originally discovered when popcorn factory workers started getting sick. The culprit was diacetyl, a food additive used to simulate butter flavor in microwave popcorn.

Does vaping affect the lungs?

Instead of bathing lung tissue with a therapeutic mist, just as a nebulizer does, vaping coats lungs with potentially harmful chemicals. E-liquid concoctions usually include some mix of flavorings, aromatic additives and nicotine or THC (the chemical in marijuana that causes psychological effects), dissolved in an oily liquid base.

Is second hand vapor safe?

Secondhand Vapor Isn’t Safe Either. It’s a myth that secondhand emissions from e-cigarettes are harmless. Many people think the secondhand vapor is just water, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The vapor emitted when someone exhales contains a variety of dangerous substances, which may include: Nicotine.

How to treat SP in vaping?

For patients with vaping associated SP, we recommend standard treatment with tube thoracostomy for initial pneumothorax with smoking and vaping cessation interventions and surgery reserved for recurrence. Management of SP is based on size and symptoms. Clinically stable patients with large pneumothoraces, defined as size greater than 2 cm by the British Thoracic Society 2010 guidelines, 3 cm by the American College of Chest Physicians Delphi Consensus Statement, or small and symptomatic pneumothoraces, should undergo lung re-expansion procedures, which were done for our two patients [1,17,18]. These are often with small-bore (≤14Fr) catheters which are kept in place until air leaks resolve and the lung re-expands [17]. If patients smoke or vape, cessation counselling should be provided. The best way to reduce the risk of SP in tobacco smokers is to quit smoking, and we apply this principal in our recommendations [14]. Surgical intervention via VATS with pleurodesis and blebectomy (when bullae are present) is typically reserved for failure of lung expansion with chest tube, persistent air leaks, bilateral pneumothorax, or recurrent pneumothorax (second ipsilateral or first contralateral), the latter being the case for both of our patients [2,17,18]. Although the recurrence rates are lower, 16–28%, morbidity is higher [2,19].

What is a spontaneous pneumothorax?

Pneumothorax is the collection of air in the pleural space [ 1 ]. Spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) is a pneumothorax that occurs without an obvious cause. Most SPs are classified as primary (PSP), in which the patient has no underlying lung disease, or secondary, in which the patient does have underlying lung disease such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, infection, malignancy, or congenital malformation in the pediatric population [ 2 ]. Rates in children are 4 per 100,000 persons in males and 1.1 per 100,000 persons in females [ 3 ]. PSP is more common in young, healthy patients, and tobacco and cannabis smoking are the main risk factor [ 4, 5 ]. However, to our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the risk of PSP due to electronic cigarette use or “vaping.” We present two adolescent patients who experienced SP while vaping.

Why is vaping important?

A comprehensive smoking history that includes vaping is important in patients presenting with suspected pneumothoraces as it can lead to earlier cessation interventions, help prevent recurrence, and raise suspicion for pneumothorax in patients presenting without severe symptoms.

How far along the upper left lung is the left pneumothorax?

Fig. 1. Left pneumothorax measuring up to 2.7 cm along the upper left lung and 0.8 cm laterally.

Is vaping a risk factor for pneumothorax?

Conclusion. Vaping is a risk factor for spontaneous pneumothorax. Practitioners should inquire about vaping when taking a complete patient history to properly counsel patients on smoking cessation and prevent future recurrence.

Is vaping a risk factor for SP?

These two cases establish vaping as a risk factor for SP. As vaping rates continue to rise, they highlight the importance of asking adolescent patients about a history of vaping in addition to tobacco, cannabis and other drug use. In both cases, we did not discover the history of vaping in either patient prior to their second presentation of SP. Although sometimes difficult to ascertain in this population, even with direct questioning, discovery of vaping can lead to earlier cessation interventions, help prevent future SP, and raise suspicion for SP in patients presenting without severe symptoms. We advocate for and encourage legislators to enact stricter standards of quality control for electronic cigarettes.

Is smoking marijuana a pulmonary hazard?

Pulmonary hazards of smoking marijuana as compared with tobacco

What are the risk factors for spontaneous pneumothorax?

Risk factors that contribute to the development of spontaneous pneumothorax include tobacco smoking, age (adolescents and young adults), thin stature, and male sex. Furthermore, recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces occurs in 20–60% of patients [ 5 ]. Age, gender, tobacco smoking habits, pneumothorax size, low body mass index (BMI), and treatment modality have been suggested to contribute to recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces [ 4, 6 ]. Although cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor for spontaneous pneumothorax [ 7, 8, 9 ], little is known about the contribution of electronic cigarettes to the development of spontaneous pneumothorax.

How long did it take for a Caucasian man to have a recurrent right sided spontaneous pneu?

An 18-year-old Caucasian man presented twice with recurrent right-sided spontaneous pneumothoraces within 2 weeks. He reported a history of vaping just prior to both episodes. Diagnostic testing was notable for a right-sided spontaneous pneumothorax on chest X-ray and computed tomography scan. His symptoms improved following insertion of a chest tube and drainage of air on each occasion. In the 2-week follow-up visit for the recurrent episode, he was asymptomatic and reported that he was no longer using electronic cigarettes.

Is vaping a risk factor for pneumothorax?

Although tobacco smoking is a well-documented risk factor for spontaneous pneumothorax, an association between electronic cigarette use (that is, vaping) and spontaneous pneumothorax has not been noted. We report a case of spontaneous pneumothoraces correlated with vaping.

Does smoking marijuana cause pneumothorax?

Although our patient reported no history of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco use, he did report a history of occasional marijuana use. Although a correlation has been made between marijuana and spontaneous pneumothorax, its causality remains undetermined as most studies were presented as case reports or small case series [ 35, 36, 37 ]. In a 2017 case-control study, daily cannabis smoking combined with tobacco use increased the risk of spontaneous pneumothorax compared to tobacco smoking alone in males [ 35 ]. It is possible that the combination of marijuana and vaping share similar effects and pathophysiology (that is, carbon monoxide burden and carcinogen additives) contributing to an elevated risk of spontaneous pneumothorax. In addition, marijuana smoking increases squamous metaplasia, airway lesions, goblet and basal cell hyperplasia, and cell disorganization [ 38 ]. Pre-existing changes to the airway due to marijuana use could further contribute to the susceptibility of spontaneous pneumothoraces in chronic electronic cigarette users.

Can electronic cigarettes cause pneumothorax?

We hypothesize that electronic cigarette use could potentially increase the risk of spontaneous pneumothorax through the action of both inhaled toxins and through physiologic mechanisms. In marijuana smokers, the increased risk of spontaneous pneumothorax is thought to be partially attributable to deep inhalation followed by a Valsalva maneuver during exhalation [ 25 ]. Repeated deep inhalation through a highly resistive device, such as a water pipe, creating a Muller maneuver, and generating large negative intrathoracic pressure, has also been proposed as a mechanism of spontaneous pneumothorax in marijuana smokers [ 26 ]. Given the airflow resistance of pod-based electronic cigarettes, such as the ones used by this patient, there is certainly potential for a vaping-related Muller maneuver driving spontaneous pneumothorax in this patient. In fact, airflow rates of vaping apparatuses vary from 20 to 102 mL/s [ 27 ].

Do vape pods contain nicotine?

Furthermore, vape liquid pods may contain numerous other compounds and are known to provide unreliable nicotine delivery that is often inconsistent with the labeling [ 29 ]. These liquid pods also contain propylene glycol, which has been shown to induce airway epithelial injury and deep airway inflammation [ 30 ].

Is vaping bad for you?

The potential adverse health effects of vaping have not been established , despite their growing use [ 19, 20 ]. Previous case reports have suggested that vaping is associated with multiple pulmonary processes including exogenous lipoid pneumonia, bilateral pleural effusion, bronchiolitis, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, and acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis [ 13, 21, 22, 23, 24 ]. Here, we report a correlation between vaping and recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces for the first time.

How can vaping lead to a collapsed lung?

A collapsed lung, also known as a pneumothorax, occurs when the lung is unable to inflate due to pressure created by air getting in the space between your lungs and chest. This can happen due to external trauma such as a bullet wound or internal trauma like ruptured air sacs or holes forming in the lung due to COPD.

How to contact a lawyer about a collapsed lung?

If you or someone you love have experienced a collapsed lung or other injury listed, reach out today online or by phone at (267) 214-8608 for a consultation to learn more about your legal rights and options. Categories.

Why did Juul sue?

This can happen due to external trauma such as a bullet wound or internal trauma like ruptured air sacs or holes forming in the lung due to COPD. An 18-year-old college student in Miami filed a lawsuit against JUUL in August 2019 after one of his lungs collapsed the previous month from using the brand’s e-cigarette.

Is vaping safer than smoking cigarettes?

Vaping has become increasingly popular in the last few years, partly because it has been marketed as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. However, numerous studies have shown that JUUL and other e-cigarettes can cause many of the same problems associated with traditional cigarettes, including a collapsed lung.

How common is spontaneous pneumothorax?

How common is spontaneous pneumothorax? According to NHI, each year, on average, 7.4 to 18 per 100,000 men , and 1.2 to 6 per 100,000 women are affected by the condition. Taking this into account, wouldn’t be seeing A LOT more of this kind of thing if vaping caused spontaneous pneumothorax? Like hundreds of thousands of cases a year? And big spikes in incidences that track alongside the rise of the vaping during the past several years?

How many blebs are there in a pneumothorax?

Affected individuals may have one bleb to more than thirty blebs.”.

How many vapers are there worldwide?

Could vaping have played a factor? Possibly. But when you consider that there are over 42 million vapers worldwide and there hasn’t been another case of this documented, it stands to reason that the collapsed lung was most likely the result of a pre-existing condition that was already in play, regardless of the JUUL.

Why do blebs rupture?

Many things can cause a bleb to rupture, such as changes in air pressure or a very sudden deep breath.

Did Juul cause a collapsed lung?

The man in question believed it was his JUUL habit that had caused his collapsed lung, a point the Daily Mail was quick to jump on. The Mail Online, as ever, did not check its sources, and it’s not entirely clear whether vaping had any role in his collapsed lung. More on that in a bit, though.

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