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.
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.
Can you damage your lungs from vaping?
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.
Does vaping cause lung blebs?
It is possible that chronic vaping may also lead to bleb formation.
Can smoking cause a pneumothorax?
The risk of primary spontaneous pneumothorax is linked to tobacco smoking and increases with length of exposure and daily consumption. Cigarette-induced pathologic changes in the small airways might contribute to the development of local emphysema with consequent formation of bullae.
What happens if your lungs collapse from vaping?
But both vaping and smoking increase the risk of bursting which can lead to lung collapse. Signs of a collapsed lung include sharp chest or shoulder pain, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Treating a collapsed lung may require a chest tube, surgery, and/or bed rest.
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.
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.
How do lungs heal from vaping?
However, there are certain lifestyle behaviors you can practice to try and accelerate the rate at which your lungs heal.Drink Lots Of Water. ... Eat Healthy Foods. ... Exercise Regularly. ... Cough. ... Clean Your Living Space. ... Practice Deep Breathing. ... Try Steam Therapy.
What are 3 signs and symptoms of a pneumothorax?
What are the Symptoms of Pneumothorax?Sharp, stabbing chest pain that worsens when trying to breath in.Shortness of breath.Bluish skin caused by a lack of oxygen.Fatigue.Rapid breathing and heartbeat.A dry, hacking cough.
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.
What are 5 risks of vaping?
Vaping has been linked to lung injury.Rapid onset of coughing.Breathing difficulties.Weight loss.Nausea and vomiting.Diarrhea.
What are the symptoms of vaping too much?
Symptoms include:Persistent cough.Chest pain.Shortness of breath.Some users may even experience diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and fatigue before any breathing problems develop.
What is the safest vape to use?
If you are looking for the safest vape kit then you might want to consider disposables or pod kits. These are often low powered and have safety cuts offs as well as other features to prevent them from overheating. Not only as disposables one of the safest vape kits, but they are also super easy to use.
What are the symptoms of vaping too much?
Symptoms include:Persistent cough.Chest pain.Shortness of breath.Some users may even experience diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and fatigue before any breathing problems develop.
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.
What are 5 risks of vaping?
Vaping has been linked to lung injury.Rapid onset of coughing.Breathing difficulties.Weight loss.Nausea and vomiting.Diarrhea.
How long does it take to get COPD from vaping?
Vaping can make COPD worse. But there's not enough research to show that e-cigarettes actually cause it. It takes years for COPD to show up, and e-cigarettes haven't been around that long. One short-term study found that people who vaped got COPD more often than people who didn't.
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.
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].
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 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 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.
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.
Does diacetyl help with popcorn lung?
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:
How does vaping affect the lungs?
E-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI) is an inflammatory response in the lungs triggered by using a device typically called e-cigarettes or vape pens to inhale a vapor created from heating up a liquid containing various substances , such as nicotine, cannabinoids, artificial flavors, and other additives. According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), a total of 2807 hospitalized EVALI cases or deaths have been reported as of February 18, 2020. Among these patients, the majority have been male with a median age of 24 years and no documented underlying lung disease [ 1, 2 ]. While the long-term adverse health effects of vaping are still unknown, the acute events (e.g., pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome) that have occurred are of great concern [ 3 ]. Intriguingly, pneumothoraces due to vaping have been rarely reported so far but the body of literature illustrating an association is growing. We hope to contribute to it by presenting a case of a 19-year-old male without any prior history of pulmonary disease who presented with an e-cigarette induced pneumothorax.
How to confirm pneumothorax?
Most pneumothoraces are confirmed by upright posterior-anterior chest radiographs and may be combined with lateral radiographs in difficult cases. Typically, one will see displacement of the pleural line and an absence of lung marking between the edge of the pleura and wall of the chest. CT is more sensitive than chest radiographs in the detection of pneumothorax, especially small pneumothoraces (less than 15% of the hemithorax), and can provide more detailed information, especially where there is suspicion for underlying lung disease [ 15 ]. Subsequent management includes deciding whether air needs to be removed from the pleural space (i.e., needle aspiration or chest tube), which is determined by clinical stability and size (i.e., small: ≤3 cm at apex or ≤2 cm at hilum, versus large: >3 cm at apex or >2 cm at hilum). Afterwards, patients should follow-up in about 1–2 weeks as an outpatient, and a chest radiograph should be performed to ensure lung expansion. At this time, patients should be re-evaluated for any potential diagnoses missed during the initial evaluation that would indicate a secondary pneumothorax [ 16 ]. Our patient only required observation with O2 supplementation for 24 hours before being discharged from the hospital and encouraged to follow-up with the pulmonary clinic two weeks after hospitalization. At his follow-up appointment, he underwent a chest x-ray that revealed an almost resolved pneumothorax, but we did not perform any further work-up on the patient to delineate whether or not he had a predisposition to develop a pneumothorax (e.g., alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency) as his CT at the hospital had revealed clear lung parenchyma. He was encouraged to quit e-cigarettes and follow-up on an as needed basis. Patients discharged from the hospital after inpatient treatment of pneumothorax secondary to e-cigarette use should be encouraged to discontinue use of e-cigarette or vaping products. To this day, our patient has avoided e-cigarettes but, unfortunately, has gone back to smoking cigarettes and marijuana daily.
What is pneumothorax in lung?
Pneumothorax is the presence of air in the pleural space that can result in the partial or complete collapse of a lung. Pneumothorax can be traumatic (iatrogenic vs non-iatrogenic) or spontaneous. Spontaneous pneumothoraces are classified as either primary or secondary. Primary spontaneous pneumothoraces occur in the absence of lung disease, while secondary spontaneous pneumothorax occur in the presence of lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, malignancy, necrotizing lung infections, and architectural abnormalities of the pleural membrane. Spontaneous pneumothorax classically occur in tall, thin males between the ages of 10 and 30 years, and both cigarette and cannabis smoking are well-known risk factors [ 4 ]. Vaping, on the other hand, is not as well-established as little is known about the impact e-cigarettes have on the development of pneumothoraces despite their use rapidly increasing over the past decade, particularly among adolescents and young adults.
Is vaping a pneumothorax?
Pneumothorax is the presence of air in the pleural space that can result in the partial or complete collapse of a lung. Cigarette and cannabis smoking are also well-known risk factors. Vaping, on the other hand, is not as well-established as little is known about the impact electronic cigarettes have on the development of pneumothoraces despite their use rapidly increasing over the past decade. While the long-term adverse health effects of vaping are still unknown, the acute adverse events of vaping that have occurred are concerning. Pneumothoraces due to electronic cigarettes have been rarely reported so far but the body of literature illustrating an association is growing. We hope to contribute to it by presenting a case of a 19-year-old male who presented with an e-cigarette induced pneumothorax. It is our hope that this case brings more evidence to the dangers of e-cigarette use.
Does vaping cause respiratory problems?
Although long-term health effects from vaping are not well known, CT studies have demonstrated that vaping-associated respiratory disease has presented with various pulmonary patterns including acute eosinophilic pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, bronchiolitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, the rare giant-cell interstitial pneumonitis and now pneumothorax [ 17 ]. Vaping has not yet been established as a risk factor for pneumothorax, but it is well on its way to doing so as more and more cases come to light, such as ours. Practitioners should take more care to inquire about vaping when asking patients about their smoking history and subsequently counsel them on cessation. It is our hope that this case brings more evidence to the dangers of e-cigarette use.
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.