THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the substance in marijuana that gets you high. Research suggests that vaping THC oil—which is a common form among vapers—may damage your lungs and increase your risk of negative side effects. Other ingredients in vape products can harm your lungs, as well.
Full Answer
Is vaping still bad for Your Lungs?
Vaping, the act of vaporizing a liquid to inhale, is an increasingly popular alternative to cigarette smoking. However, it could damage health by irritating the lungs and throat and introducing toxins into the body. Some vape product manufacturers claim that vaping is a completely safe alternative to smoking.
What are the dangers of vaping marijuana?
- Shortness of breath
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- Fatigue
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Low oxygen levels
- Lung failure and death (in severe cases)
What are the negative health effects of vaping?
The short-term side effects of using nicotine vapes are usually:
- Lingering aftertaste
- Light-headedness
- Sweating
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- High blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
Is vaping actually safer than smoking?
Neither smoking nor vaping is beneficial to human health. Based on the available evidence, smoking appears to be more harmful than vaping. However, this does not mean that vaping is safe. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, vaping may be slightly less harmful than smoking.
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.
What are the symptoms of lung damage from vaping?
What are the symptoms of EVALI?Shortness of breath.Cough.Chest pain.Fever and chills.Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.Rapid heartbeat.Rapid and shallow breathing.
Can vaping damage lungs?
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.
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.
Which is better for lungs vaping or 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 brand of Vapes are causing lung problems?
Dank Vapes, which the CDC classifies as counterfeit products “of unknown origin,” was the most commonly used product, with more than half of hospitalized patients saying they used it. TKO, Smart Cart and Rove were other popular brands among patients. However, which products patients used varied regionally.
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.
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.
How can I clean my lungs?
Lung Cleansing TechniquesDo Steam Therapy. Breathe in, breathe out. ... Drink Green Tea. Cleaning your lungs may be as simple as sipping hot tea—green tea, specifically. ... Invest in an Air Purifier. One way to clean your lungs is to first clean the air you breathe. ... Exercise Regularly. ... Eat Anti-Inflammatory Foods.
Can a doctor tell if you vape?
Medical tests can detect nicotine in people's urine, blood, saliva, hair, and nails. Nicotine is the addictive substance in tobacco, cigarettes, and vapes or e-cigarettes.
Can lungs recover after 40 years of smoking?
After 30 years of smoking, the lungs will likely have irreversible damage and the risk of all types of disease is drastically increased, including lung cancer, COPD, and heart disease. While the lungs may never return to normal, it is still worth quitting smoking even after 30 or more years.
What are the long term effects of vaping?
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.
What are the long term side effects of vaping?
Serious & Potentially Long-Term Effects of VapingNicotine addiction.Severe lung injury.Seizures.Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), formerly known as idiopathic bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP)Popcorn lung.Strokes.Heart attacks.
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.
Can a doctor tell if you vape?
Medical tests can detect nicotine in people's urine, blood, saliva, hair, and nails. Nicotine is the addictive substance in tobacco, cigarettes, and vapes or e-cigarettes.
What diseases can vaping cause?
These aldehydes can cause lung disease, as well as cardiovascular (heart) disease. E-cigarettes also contain acrolein, a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds. It can cause acute lung injury and COPD and may cause asthma and lung cancer.
The Impact of Smoking Marijuana
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The Impact of Vaping Marijuana
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Are There Other, Safer Alternatives?
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Why are cigarettes dangerous?
The reason cigarettes are dangerous isn’t because of the nicotine. The tar and other chemicals that cause emphysema or cancer make it so dangerous. Burning or inhaling is a bad idea. That’s why we will probably discover that marijuana is bad for your lungs, too.”.
Why are e-cigarettes bad for youth?
These are similar in nature to vaporizers used for marijuana, and can greatly impact youth because of the potential cancer-causing substances they release.
How many states allow medical marijuana?
The research on medical marijuana looks promising. However, we still don’t know whether it’s an effective treatment. Beyond that, only 31 states , as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia allow the use of marijuana for medical use.
What is the active ingredient in marijuana?
Two drugs that are a synthetic laboratory version with chemical structure of or similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another active ingredient in marijuana, are approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Can smoking marijuana cause damage?
Smoking marijuana can cause damage with rupture to the walls of adjacent alveoli (small air sacs in the lungs) into larger, ineffective air sacs called bullae. The risk is higher in male smokers under the age of 45.
Does smoking marijuana cause bronchitis?
This is associated with an increased likelihood of developing chronic bronchitis. The inhalation patterns when smoking marijuana are different than when smoking cigarettes.
Is marijuana good for you?
Health benefits of marijuana. Marijuana may provide calming effects that improve certain mental and physical conditions. For instance, a doctor might recommend medical marijuana to people with Crohn’s disease as an alternative way to ease inflammation, nausea, and vomiting .
Why is the American Lung Association concerned about the health impacts of marijuana use?
We caution the public against smoking marijuana because of the risks it poses to the lungs.
What is the most common way to smoke marijuana?
Marijuana is most commonly smoked using pipes, bongs, paper-wrapped joints, blunts and other devices including those that heat or vaporize marijuana. Marijuana can also be consumed through dozens of different products including e-cigarettes, candy, brownies and other baked goods, capsules, beverages and many more.
Is second hand smoke bad for you?
Secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxins and carcinogens found in directly-inhaled marijuana smoke, in similar amounts if not more. 5 While there is no data on the health consequences of breathing secondhand marijuana smoke, there is concern that it could cause harmful health effects, especially among vulnerable children in the home. Additional research on the health effects of secondhand marijuana smoke is needed.
Does smoking marijuana cause respiratory problems?
Smoking marijuana hurts the lungs' first line of defense against infection by killing cells that help remove dust and germs as well as causing more mucus to be formed. In addition, it also suppresses the immune system. These effects could lead to an increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections among marijuana smokers, although there is no clear evidence of such actual infections being more common among marijuana smokers. 4,9 However, frequent marijuana-only smokers have more healthcare visits for respiratory conditions compared to nonsmokers. 10
Can you inhale marijuana concentrate?
There is little known on the potential lung health effects of inhaling marijuana or products made from it through routes other than smoking. However: Use of "vape-pens" to inhale cannabis concentrates or liquids may have similar respiratory health effects as e-cigarette use. "Dabbing" (inhaling flash-vaporized cannabis concentrates) ...
Is marijuana safe for medical use?
The American Lung Association encourages continued research into the health effects of marijuana use, as the benefits, risks and safety of marijuana use for medical purposes require further study. Patients considering using marijuana for medicinal purposes should make this decision in consultation with their doctor, and consider means of administration other than smoking.
Does smoking marijuana harm your lung?
Smoking marijuana clearly damages the human lung, and regular use leads to chronic bronchitis and can cause an immune-compromised person to be more susceptible to lung infections. No one should be exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke.
How many people died from vaping?
Unfortunately, it wasn't long before he became part of the national statistics tracking an outbreak of vaping-related lung illness that has killed four dozen Americans and sickened more than 2,200. Lubell ended up in the hospital, seriously ill from vaping an oily liquid containing extracts of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
Why did Paul Lubell vape?
He Started Vaping THC To Cope With Chronic Pain. Then He Got Sick. Paul Lubell used to vape medical marijuana to manage his chronic back and neck pain, instead of using opioid medications. Now, after getting hospitalized for lung sickness, he doesn't vape.
What is a Lubell vape cartridge?
Lubell describes his old vaping cartridges as tiny sticks that screwed on top of the vaping pen. When he inhaled at one end of the pen, it pulled the THC extract and other liquids in the cartridge over a heating element.
Is medical marijuana legal in Ohio?
Medical marijuana is legal in Ohio, as it is in 33 other states, plus the District of Columbia. When Lubell vaped, the pain went away quickly, he says. "When I say it took away pain — it was almost instantaneous," he says. "Within the span of 10 minutes, my pain would be gone.".
Does vaping cause lung pain?
When Vaping Marijuana For Chronic Pain Leads To Lung Illness : Shots - Health News A Navy veteran from Cleveland tried vaping marijuana to deal with his chronic pain. He landed in the hospital, becoming one of over 2,200 Americans who have suffered serious lung injury from vaping.
Is there tar in vape pens?
There's no tar or other byproducts of burning. And vape pens are high-tech, customizable and sleek. But none of that mattered to Paul Lubell when he decided to try vaping. He wasn't thinking about pleasure; he was just trying to avoid pain.
Does a man vape after being hospitalized?
Now, after getting hospitalized for lung sickness, he doesn't vape. As vaping has grown more popular in recent years, the trend has been fueled by the habit's pleasurable allure: Compared with smoking cigarettes or pot, vaping is discreet and less smelly. Vaping fluids come in hundreds of flavors.
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 long does it take for vaping to work?
If you are new to vaping, it is generally recommended to start low and go slow. If you aren't feeling the desired effect after 15 minutes, you can take a little more.
How much does a dry herb vape cost?
Cannabis enthusiasts say dry herb vaping has a better flavor and milder smell than smoking. A good quality dry herb vape starts at about $200, but the expense could be worth it for people who smoke cannabis regularly.
What do vaporizers use?
Unlike traditional cigarettes that burn leaves to make smoke, vaporizers use batteries and small metal coils to heat a substance until it evaporates and is then inhaled. For this reason, they're often referred to as vapes, vape pens, and vaporizers. But not all devices vaporize the same way.
Can you smoke cannabis with a vape cart?
Dry herb vapes have a stronger odor that can linger in a room for about 30 minutes, but is easier to mask than smoking. And unlike smoking, vaping does not typically cling to clothing and skin.
Is vaping marijuana harmful?
Vaping marijuana might expose you to fewer toxic ingredients than smoking it, but it's far from harmless. A lot more research is needed to fully understand the health risks associated with vaping in general and vaping products that contain THC.
Is vaping bad for you?
Keep in mind that the use of e-cigarettes and vaping in general puts you at a greater risk of lung disease, heart disease, and cancer. 12 And though you are not smoking nicotine, that doesn't mean you aren't ingesting other harmful toxins.
Is vaping weed harmful?
Vaping weed might seem like a less harmful alternative to smoking, but it’s not entirely harmless. In addition to the health risks associated with THC, vaping itself can be potentially damaging to a person’s health. 4
What to do if you insist on vaping?
If you insist on vaping I'd switch extracts and switch devices. If it still persists after you're done vaping then I would definitely switch to edibles.
Why does mucus go down into your lungs?
Because the material is so dry going in—remember it has been vaporized— it goes down into your lungs where the delicate bronchi and mucus and dries it out from breathing it in. If you have ever taken a huge hit and coughed it up, you know what I am talking about (and how those misfired clouds jack you up so bad).
Is Gpen a good vape?
If you are vaping a cannabis based liquid i’d quit NOW. I would purchase a dry herb vaporizer and enjoy the flower that way. Gpen makes a good product. I’ve had the pro as well as the elite. A few months ago i purchased a Pulsar APX. It works pretty good and sells for $69.99.
Is vaping safe for lungs?
With vaping, there’s a lot of variability in ingredients, so there’s no uniform product to study. Some people may have selected vaping solutions that were fairly benign and have very little damage to the lungs. Others may be at much higher risk. We don’t know which ones, though.
Is there a regulation on vaping?
In the US, there is very little regulation on vaping ingredients. There’s no requirement to even list those ingredients on the label, because lobbyists and capitalists have so much influence on our consumer protection regulations. At least one of our major political parties has decided that most or all regulations are bad job-killing devices and has been successful in stopping any new regulations from coming down on “job-creators.” So we’re at the mercy of oligarchs who make products that we consume.
Can you eat the distillate in a vape?
As a precaution yes you probably should. Especially if you're using unregulated cartridges (didn't get it from a Dispensary yourself) or the vape itself has design flaws making it toxic. If you need it for medical use and are getting lung pain inexplicably I would switch to edibles. You can eat the distillate used to fill the cartridges as it has been decarbed, but if its flavored or has additives then I wouldn't recommend that.
Can vaping cause lung problems?
That depends on how much damage you’ve sustained from vaping. If you were one of the unluck y people who had adult respiratory distress syndrome from vaping, you might be at risk of other lung diseases later on.
Which state has the most vaping deaths?
Alaska remains the only state without any reported cases. Two more vaping-related deaths were confirmed Thursday, one in Tennessee and another in Washington, DC. That brings the total number of deaths so far to 36. Other deaths are under investigation.
How many lung diseases are linked to e-cigarettes?
The number of life-threatening lung illnesses linked to e-cigarettes has risen to 1,604 nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Does vape have vitamin E?
The diagnosis made sense given that many vape devices tested contained high levels of vitamin E oil. However, that ingredient has not been detected in all of the devices, and public health officials have said that while vitamin E oil may be one clue, it does not explain all the cases.
Is EVALI a counterfeit vape?
Elise Wrabetz / NBC News. The CDC previously reported that other patients diagnosed with EVALI also said they'd used "Dank Vapes," which are counterfeit. Early on in the investigation, some doctors had diagnosed patients with a different form of pneumonia, called lipoid pneumonia.
Why does vaping make me cough?
Vaping should not produce a cough or smell. If vaping does produce a cough, it is a sign that the heat of the vaporizer is too higher. When lowered, it should eliminate any cough.
What is the difference between vaping flower and cannabis oil?
If you are vaping concentrated cannabis oil in a cartridge or other concentrates these are much more potent than vaping flower. Concentrates and concentrated oils can contain between 70-90% of cannabinoids, where cannabis flower will contain between 5-30% of cannabinoids. Keep this difference in potency in mind when medicating and choosing a product to vape.
What temperature should a vaporizer be?
The highest temperature vaporizers should reach is 428° F. THCV and CBC vaporize at this temperature, while all other cannabinoids and terpenes vaporize below this temperature. Vaporization boils off cannabinoids and terpenes at different levels depending on the temperatures needed to boil off each cannabinoid or terpene.
How much does a desktop vaporizer cost?
Desktop vaporizers can be expensive to purchase, ranging from $150-$700.
What can portable vaporizers be used for?
Portable vaporizers can be used with more products including wax, concentrates, and concentrated oils.
When was vaping invented?
Vaping was invented in the early 1990s by a Native American named Eagle Bill, who lived in the Netherlands. Eagle Bill used a hot air paint stripping gun to heat cannabis, but only to the point in which the active cannabinoids and terpenes were boiled off, below the temperature of burning the cannabis which happens when smoking. The vapor produced was captured in a jar. This vapor didn’t have the taste or smell of cannabis smoke. It was much more floral, tasty, and mild. Vaping became a preferred method of using medical marijuana that has developed and spread rapidly since Eagle Bill’s first invention.
Can you vape medical cannabis?
If you plan on vaping as your preferred method of using medical cannabis it is recommended that you invest in a high quality vaporizer. Vaporizers use water which can cause rust and oxidation that is unhealthy to inhale. Poorly made vaporizers can contain chemicals from manufacturing. It is best to buy a quality vaporizer for extended use.
