Vaping FAQs

does vaping cause pneumothorax

by Dr. Leopoldo Leuschke Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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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.

E-cigarettes may increase the risk of pneumothorax through the action of both the physiologic mechanisms and inhaled toxins. Pneumothoraces are thought to result from the spontaneous rupture of subpleural blebs or bullae or increase in pleural porosity secondary to inflammation.

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 vaping cause collapsed lung?

On their own, these blisters don't typically produce symptoms. You don't know you have them, unless they rupture. Smoking — and now vaping — are associated with an increased risk of bursting these blisters, leading to lung collapse.

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.

What can vaping do to your lungs?

But what is clear is that e-cigarettes have been found to have chemicals and particles that have been linked experimentally to lung disease, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Vaping can also cause lung inflammation, which has been linked to chronic lung disease as well.

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 happens if I smoke with pneumothorax?

In patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, cigarette smoking is associated with the pathophysiologic consequences of extensive respiratory bronchiolitis, which has a significant impact on the rate of recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

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 much vaping is too much?

Even today, many high-profile sources list the toxic dose of nicotine (the LD50 – or the dose that will kill about half of people exposed) as between 30 and 60 mg. To put this in context of vaping, this would be about 4 ml of 12 mg/ml e-liquid. d.

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 risk factors for pneumothorax?

Risk factorsSmoking. The risk increases with the length of time and the number of cigarettes smoked, even without emphysema.Genetics. Certain types of pneumothorax appear to run in families.Previous pneumothorax. Anyone who has had one pneumothorax is at increased risk of another.

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 causes air pockets in lungs?

Most often, it occurs when air leaks from any part of the lung or airways into the mediastinum. Increased pressure in the lungs or airways may be caused by: Too much coughing. Repeated bearing down to increase abdominal pressure (such as pushing during childbirth or a bowel movement)

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.

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 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.

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Does smoking cause pneumothorax?

Smoking is associated with an increased risk of spontaneous pneumothorax. Typically linked to tobacco smoking and cannabis use, to date there have been no reports of spontaneous pneumothorax associated with electronic cigarette use or “vaping.” Rates of vaping are rapidly rising amongst adolescents. We present two male patients age 15 and 16 who had a spontaneous pneumothorax after vaping and were initially treated with tube thoracostomy placement. Both patients had recurrences requiring surgical intervention and have been recurrence-free since. This is the first known report of vaping and its association with spontaneous pneumothorax. 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. As more studies demonstrate vaping-associated lung injury, we advocate for stricter standards of quality control for electronic cigarettes and encourage legislators to do the same.

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.

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.

What is the food additive used to deepen e-cigarette flavors?

Diacetyl: This food additive, used to deepen e-cigarette flavors, is known to damage small passageways in the lungs.

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.

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 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.

my 20yo non-verbal autistic brother is in extreme pain

My brother is autistic and can't talk, but he tries to communicate by pointing to things or through a program on his ipad.

I've got 99 problems and not pooping is one

29 year old lady here, 5'3" and 150 lbs on a good day, living in the midwest of ye olde U.S. of A.

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