what is causing the recent vaping illness

The federal investigation into the link between vaping and severe lung illnesses is ongoing and has not identified a cause, but all reported cases have indicated the use of e-cigarette products and some patients have reported using e-cigarettes containing cannabinoid products, such as THC.

Full Answer

What illnesses are caused by vaping?

Vaping illnesses and injuries associated with nicotine and chemical exposure may include:

• Asthma
• Brain development issues
• Bronchitis
• Bronchiolitis obliterans (aka Popcorn Lung – caused by exposure to the flavoring chemical diacetyl)
• Heart problems
• Respiratory illnesses

What are the health hazards of vaping?

• Scientists are still learning about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes.
• Some of the ingredients in e-cigarette aerosol could also be harmful to the lungs in the long-term. ...
• Defective e-cigarette batteries have caused some fires and explosions, a few of which have resulted in serious injuries.

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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

What are the health concerns of vaping?

Vaping Health Risks. There are many health risks associated with vaping. Vape products often contain high levels of nicotine, which can lead to addiction and even serious illnesses. The batteries used in some vape products can also explode, causing burns, scarring, and death.

What is the audience of vaping?

Can you vape with THC?

Is the FDA preventing vaping?

Is vaping approved by the FDA?

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What is EVALI caused by?

EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury) is an inflammatory response in the lungs triggered by inhaled substances. Given a huge range of products — many illicit or counterfeit — and many different ingredients, it's not surprising that EVALI varies, too.

What does EVALI feel like?

Symptoms of EVALI are similar to those of the flu and other illnesses, making a diagnosis challenging for patient and doctor. “People may confuse these symptoms with something else, like the flu, which is concerning,” says Mona Awad, M.D., who has had patients with EVALI mistake the disease at first for a GI condition.

Is EVALI a Covid?

But unlike COVID-19, this illness was not caused by a virus. It was the result of vaping. Because many smokers regard vaping as being safe, the use of e-cigarettes has significantly increased over the course of the past decade. As a result, cases of e-cigarette or vaping-induced lung injury (EVALI) have also increased.

What is the health issue with vaping?

2: Research suggests vaping is bad for your heart and lungs. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.

Can my lungs recover from vaping?

Breathing in the harmful chemicals from vaping products can cause irreversible (cannot be cured) lung damage, lung disease and, in some cases, death. Some chemicals in vaping products can also cause cardiovascular disease and biological changes that are associated with cancer development.

How do I clean my lungs from vaping?

Ways to clear the lungsSteam therapy. Steam therapy, or steam inhalation, involves inhaling water vapor to open the airways and may also help to loosen mucus. ... Controlled coughing. ... Draining mucus from the lungs. ... Exercise. ... Green tea. ... Anti-inflammatory foods. ... Chest percussion.

How do doctors test for EVALI?

How Is EVALI Diagnosed? There is no single test for EVALI. Diagnosis is mostly a process of elimination because symptoms can be similar to many other respiratory diseases. These include shortness of breath, fever and chills, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, rapid heartrate and chest pain.

How is EVALI treated?

What is the treatment for EVALI?Corticosteroids. A type of medication that reduces inflammation in the lungs and throughout the body.Supportive care. Patients may receive supplemental oxygen through a nasal cannula. ... Antibiotics. ... Antivirals.

Does EVALI show up on chest xray?

Based on this group, researchers discovered that the two most common findings of EVALI on imaging studies are ground-glass opacity and consolidation. Ground-glass opacity is a term used to describe the hazy gray areas that can show up in CT scans or X-rays of the lungs.

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 popcorn lungs?

What is popcorn lung? Popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans) is an uncommon type of lung disease, but it is not cancer. It's caused by a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs, which blocks the flow of air. A possible link has been suggested between the disease and a chemical called diacetyl.

Are e cigs worse than cigarettes?

Are e-cigarettes less harmful than regular cigarettes? Yes—but that doesn't mean e-cigarettes are safe. E-cigarette aerosol generally contains fewer toxic chemicals than the deadly mix of 7,000 chemicals in smoke from regular cigarettes. However, e-cigarette aerosol is not harmless.

What to do if I think I have EVALI?

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of EVALI. Even if your symptoms are mild, let your provider know. Symptoms can get worse quickly.

How long do you have to vape to get EVALI?

Anyone who's vaped in the last 90 days is at risk for EVALI. You don't have to be older or already sick. “Many of these patients were normal, healthy people,” Tsai says.

How do you know if your sick from vaping?

Symptoms of vaping-related illness are very similar to symptoms that we see with illnesses such as pneumonia, cold, and flu. Symptoms could be a cough, shortness of breath, potentially difficulty breathing as well as nausea and vomiting. These symptoms can happen over a couple of days or they can appear quickly.

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.

Vaping-Related Illness: How To Catch Symptoms Before It's Too Late - WebMD

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 ...

Is Vaping Bad for You? And 12 Other FAQs - Healthline

Vaping isn't as risky as smoking cigarettes, but it still has negative side effects. Find out which fluid flavors carry the most risk, ingredients to avoid, and more.

Vaping and Marijuana: What You Need to Know - Partnership to End Addiction

The practice of using vaping devices to consume marijuana or cannabis products is becoming increasingly widespread. Recent data shows that more than one-fifth of high school seniors have reported vaping marijuana in the past year. [1] At the same time, one of the ingredients present in many marijuana vapes has been linked to a wave of illnesses and deaths impacting people of all ages across ...

When will vaping peak?

Emergency department (ED) visits related to e-cigarette, or vaping, products continue to decline, after sharply increasing in August 2019 and peaking in September.

When is the next vaping hospital admission?

Dates of symptom onset and hospital admission for patients with lung injury associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping — United States, March 31, 2019–February 15, 2020. Numbers do not sum to 2,807 due to missing admission dates.

How many deaths from evali in 2020?

As of February 18, 2020, a total of 2,807 hospitalized EVALI cases or deaths have been reported to CDC from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands). Sixty-eight deaths have been confirmed in 29 states and the District of Columbia (as of February 18, 2020).

What is an e-cigarette?

Using an e-cigarette is commonly called vaping. E-cigarettes work by heating a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs.

When did the CDC stop collecting data?

Due to the subsequent identification of the primary cause of EVALI, and the considerable decline in EVALI cases and deaths since a peak in September 2019, CDC stopped collecting these data from states as of February 2020.

How to contact CDC about e-cigarettes?

If you have questions about CDC’s investigation into the lung injuries associated with use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products, contact CDC-INFO or call 1-800-232-4636.

Who monitors e-cigarettes?

CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and other clinical and public health partners are continuing to monitor e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).

What chemicals are in vaping?

Vaping exposes the lungs to a variety of chemicals. These may include the main active chemicals in tobacco (nicotine) or marijuana (THC), flavorants, and other ingredients that are added to vaping liquids. Plus, other chemicals can be produced during the vaporizing process.

What are vaping devices?

Vaping devices, also known as e-cigarettes, vape pens, and e-hookahs among other terms, come in many shapes and sizes. Some look like traditional cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Others are shaped like every-day objects, such as pens or USB memory sticks.

How old do you have to be to vape?

New laws are aimed at curbing vaping among teens. People must now be 21 to buy any tobacco product, including vaping products. And companies can no longer produce and sell flavors that appeal to children like fruit and mint. If you’ve already started vaping or smoking cigarettes, it’s never too late to quit.

Can nicotine be inhaled in a vaporizer?

Plus, other chemicals can be produced during the vaporizing process. “If the liquid has nicotine in it, then the user is inhaling nicotine along with the other ingredients in the liquid,” explains Dr. Thomas Eissenberg, an expert on tobacco research at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Is vaping harmful?

So how safe is vaping? Studies suggest nicotine vaping may be less harmful than traditional cigarettes when people who regularly smoke switch to them as a complete replacement. But nicotine vaping could still damage your health.

Is vaping more popular in high school?

Vaping is now more popular among teens than smoking traditional cigarettes. One in four high school seniors say they vaped nicotine in the past month. And studies have found that teens who vape nicotine may be more likely to go on to smoke traditional cigarettes.

Why are e-cigarettes linked to lung disease?

A culprit thickener, or other additive, might explain why both e-cigarettes, which have legal cartridges that typically carry nicotine, and vaporizers are linked to the 450 people with lung illness, said Kovacevich. “With black market cartridges, or counterfeit cartridges — we see a lot of those — the ingredients are not known.”

What is vaporizer in e-cigarettes?

Advertisement. “Vaping” is shorthand for inhaling vaporized liquid, usually a mixture of nicotine and oil heated by a battery-powered atomizer in an e-cigarette or larger vaporizer. E-cigarettes have been sold in the US since 2007, with more than 9 million people using them on a regular basis, according to the CDC.

What are the thickeners in vaping liquids?

There is some suspicion about the “thickeners” added to vaping liquids, Nick Kovacevich, CEO of KushCo Holdings, the largest US seller of vaping products and accessories (but not vaping liquids), told BuzzFeed News. Thickeners make vaping liquids more viscous, preventing oversaturation of a vaporizer’s combustion chamber. Typically in THC vaping liquids, they are loaded with the terpenes that give marijuana its taste.

What devices did people with lung injuries use?

Patients with lung injuries used a wide variety of devices, including both vaporizers, large-ish gadgets with a refillable liquid reservoir, smaller e-cigarettes that vaporize nicotine liquid from cartridges, and a wide variety of brands of liquids and cartridges. Around 80% reported they used vaping liquids that contained THC, the central clue in the case, with investigators hinting that the chemical was likely involved in all of the cases.

Is vaping legal in Michigan?

In the meantime, Michigan’s governor only last week banned the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in her state in response to teen vaping, and after its health department announced six cases of lung illness. The legal US age for e-cigarette use is 18, and Walley and others complain that with 1 in 5 teens now vaping, those rules are being flouted, with kids ending up hooked on nicotine, which changes adolescent brain development.

Is Vitamin E bad for vaping?

While health officials hunt for answers, one leading theory points to a bad ingredient in vaping liquids, perhaps Vitamin E, sold on the street. But some physicians suspect the epidemic has always been there, unnoticed until now. And for others, the culprit might be the online world of dubious home-brew recipes for getting a better high while vaping.

When was the first case of a syphilis in Illinois?

The first case in Illinois dates back to April, according to Jennifer Layden, state epidemiologist with the Illinois Department of Public Health. However Callahan, the critical care specialist in Utah, doubts that doctors just missed the outbreak before.

What is vaping illness?

First, let's cover the basics. The condition has been given the term EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury). Whether intentionally or not, it's an acronym that speaks directly to how little is known about the illness; thus far, the only solid link between cases is that those who fell ill reported a history of vaping or e-cigarette use. Sufferers typically report a gradual onset of early symptoms over days or weeks, including respiratory symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath, as well as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, and weight loss.

How many people died from vaping in 2019?

The first smattering of cases were recognized in April 2019. By August, the mysterious illness had claimed its first lives. Months later, with the case count at 2,290 and 47 confirmed deaths, health organizations are scrambling to discover the cause of the vaping-related illness. Much is still unknown about the illness and its causes, ...

How does vaping work?

Beth K. Thielen, University of Minnesota fellow in adult and pediatric infectious diseases, offers a helpful explanation: "With both, the goal of the user is to convert the drug — typically nicotine or THC — into a gas form that can be taken into the body by breathing the drug. With vaping, there is typically a heating element powered by a battery that converts the liquid contents of the vape cartridge into a gas or aerosol. While the way they generate aerosols or gases is different, both smoking and vaping can deliver potentially harmful byproducts in addition to the drug."

What percentage of vaping patients are male?

Of the reported cases where the requisite data is available, the CDC reports that 70 percent of patients are male, 79 percent are under the age of 35, and a full 86 percent report the use of products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC — the main psychoactive compound present in marijuana — suggesting that the chemical plays a marked role in this outbreak.

What are the metals in e-cigarettes?

As far back as February 28, scientists at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health warned that the tiny metal coils inside an e-cigarette — that heat and ultimately aerosolize the liquid nitrogen — could be tainted with toxic metals like chromium, manganese, nickel, and even lead.

Is smoking a byproduct of vaping?

With smoking, of course, we now know that those potentially harmful byproducts, include tar and carbon monoxide, ingredients e-cigarettes were specifically designed to sidestep. But in avoiding one potential contaminant, the largely unregulated vaping industry opened the door to a host of others.

Is the e-cigarette industry regulated?

However, it's important to note that the entire e-cigarette industry is ultimately unregulated. In the decade that e-cigarettes have been on the market, the FDA has repeatedly delayed its review of e-cigarettes, a lapse the agency has vowed to address.

Which states have banned vapes?

States like Washington and Oregon have temporarily banned flavored vape products. Other states are doing the same, and a nationwide ban on fruity vape flavored products is expected to be imminent.

Is vaping a good alternative to smoking?

Only years of scientific study can provide a clear picture. However, there are strong reasons to believe that vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking.

How many people have died from vaping?

There have been more than 1,600 cases of the mysterious illness that is associated with vaping since May. Thirty-six people have died. The New York Times has a dedicated tracker. What exactly is causing these illnesses and deaths is still unclear, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has been trying to assess ...

Why are vapes made with THC?

Black market vapes: The reason most of the responsible products contain THC might be because THC vapes are more likely to be doctored than nicotine vapes, particularly in states where marijuana is illegal.

What does it mean when a vape burns hotter?

A higher burn temperature means that chemicals like formaldehyde that form as an ordinary vape operates can be produced more quickly, possibly delivering a dangerous dose.

What flavoring is in vapes?

The flavoring in vapes: Mango and gummy bear vapes are very easy to be concerned about: They appeal to teenagers, and to the already-hard task of figuring out the long-term effects of vaping, they add a whole additional mess of chemicals and reactions.

How many Juul mint pods are contaminated?

Contaminated Juuls: Earlier this year, Juul allegedly shipped 1 million contaminated mint pods, BuzzFeed News revealed this week. The claim comes from a lawsuit filed by a former high-ranking employee. The company told BuzzFeed that there had been a manufacturing issue but denied that this issue led to unsafe pods. The exact alleged contaminant is unspecified.

Is weed cartridge contaminated?

Weed cartridges that are otherwise contaminated: Perhaps otheringredients or contaminants in black market THC vapes are at least partially responsible. In tests commissioned by NBC News, 10 out of 10 bootleg THC vape cartridges contained harmful pesticides. (Though what dose of those pesticides is unclear; they weren’t present in samples of three legit cartridges.)

Is Juuls a cause of vaping?

Is it causing the vaping epidemic?: It’s plausible that contaminated Juuls could be responsible for a few cases, but since they don’t contain THC, it’s unlikely that they are the main cause.

What kind of vapes did Justin use?

Justin had been using a Juul device and mint-flavored nicotine pods, his favorite. He bought mostly Juul products, plus the occasional off-brands available at stores. He would puff on the mint vapes constantly, draining about two pods a day.

How long did Justin Wilson vape?

Justin Wilson, 25, vaped for about a year and then suddenly collapsed, unable to breathe, on Sept. 1. He had to spend a week in a hospital in Portland, Oregon. Courtesy Jake Wilson. Sept. 13, 2019, 7:40 AM PDT / Source: TODAY. By A. Pawlowski.

What are the symptoms of a syringe?

Any new respiratory symptom should be reason for concern, including: 1 coughing 2 shortness of breath 3 chest tightness 4 wheezing 5 general symptoms like extreme fatigue or fever are also warning signs.

Is vaping safe for kids?

Vaping is not as safe as people thought it was, said Dr. Humberto Choi, a pulmonologist and critical care specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. Choi has treated several of the vaping-related illnesses and has recently been inundated by calls from parents worried their children are exhibiting worrisome symptoms.

Did Justin have asthma?

There were some concerns along the way: Justin had been diagnosed with asthma when he was 5, but he’d never had an asthma attack or needed an inhaler until after he started vaping, his father said.

Will Justin go back to vaping?

Another theory is that the heated vapor returned to oil form inside the cooler human body, his father said. “There’s no way” Justin will go back to vaping, he said. Family friends are now throwing away their vape pens after learning about the ordeal, Jake Wilson added.

Can e-liquid cause lipoid pneumonia?

Because the e-liquids can contain oils, there’s concern about the potential for lipoid pneumonia — an inflammation of the lungs caused by oils — but that’s not the pattern Choi has seen at the Cleveland Clinic. Nor are black-market products necessarily to blame: Some of Choi's patients have only used a regular branded vaping device, not something tainted or bought on the street.

What is e-cigarette lung injury?

Eventually, researchers tied these cases to vaping. The illness is now called e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury(EVALI). Doctors and researchers are still working to learn more about this condition, including its exact causes and long-term effects.

How old are people with evali?

The average age of people with EVALI is 24 , and almost 4 out of 5 are younger than 35. Rachel Boykan, MD, a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, says that might be because vaping products are most popular with younger people.

Is vaping a good alternative to smoking?

Electronic cigaretteswere originally designed as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. But it turns out smokinge-cigarettes -- commonly known as vaping-- has its own risks.

Can evali cause breathing problems?

Someone with EVALI may have breathingand digestive problems, along with other symptoms, including:

What is the audience of vaping?

Audience: Consumers and family members of consumers who use vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC), a psychoactive component of the marijuana plant. Consumers who have used vaping products of any kind obtained off the street or from unknown sources.

Can you vape with THC?

Do not use vaping products that contain THC.

Is the FDA preventing vaping?

Purpose: In its continued efforts to protect the public, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is strengthening its warning to consumers to stop using vaping products containing THC amid more than 1,000 reports of lung injuries —including some resulting in deaths—following the use of vaping products. The FDA is working closely ...

Is vaping approved by the FDA?

No vaping product has been approved by the FDA for therapeutic uses or authorized for marketing by the FDA. The agency recommends contacting your health care provider for more information about the use of THC to treat medical conditions.

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