Deadly vaping lung illnesses are cropping up across the US, and experts blame everything from vegetable oil to ‘Dank Vapes’
- Vape juices often contain chemicals like formaldehyde. The flavors of vaping liquids are one of the top two reasons young people told Reuters they begin using e-cigs. REUTERS/David Becker ...
- Most e-cigs also produce acrolein, a chemical often found in weed killer. The chemical acrolein releases when gasoline is burned. ...
- Nicotine hurts the lungs, whether it's vaped or smoked, and could also be at fault. ...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is vitamin E acetate linked to the eli outbreak?
Vitamin E acetate is strongly linked to the EVALI outbreak. Vitamin E acetate has been found in product samples tested by FDA and state laboratories and in patient lung fluid samples tested by CDC from geographically diverse states. Vitamin E acetate has not been found in the lung fluid of people that do not have EVALI.
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).
Is vitamin E acetate in bronchoalveolar fluid?
Vitamin E acetate was identified in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples (fluid samples collected from the lungs) from 48 of the 51 EVALI patients, but not in the BAL fluid from the healthy comparison group.
What are the chemicals in vape liquid?
When these substances are heated, they form aldehydes following oxidation. Formaldehyde (a carcinogen) and acrolein are two oxidizing agents found in vape liquid. Sustained exposure to such chemicals is linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular issues.
Is vaping harmful?
Many argue that vaping is less harmful than smoking regular cigarettes because they contain fewer chemical components. However, contrasting research suggests that vaping may cause a variety of adverse health effects.
Can you use vapes for smoking cessation?
The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of vapes for smoking cessation due to conflicting and limited rigorous data concerning the long-term implications. However, traditional smoking cessation methods, such as nicotine replacement chewing gums, nasal sprays, and skin patches, are recommended by healthcare providers and health authorities.
Can vaping cause nicotine addiction?
Many use vaping as a method to wean themselves from traditional cigarette smoking. However, many health professionals worry that vaping – as a nicotine delivery system – may be causing nicotine dependency in adults and high school-aged children. Flavorings in vaping products have also been associated with increased nicotine intake.
Do vapes cause mental health issues?
Research investigating the effect of regular vape use and mental health suggests that users are more likely to have affective disorders. Researchers found that those who used vapes daily were more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
Does vaping cause respiratory problems?
Case study data suggests that vaping may cause adverse effects on the respiratory system following the case of a woman who was diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia, which was thought to have been caused due to the inhalation of a glycerin-derived oil found in vape liquid.
Is Vaping Bad for your Health?
Electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes and e-cigs, are battery-powered devices that aim to simulate the experience of regularly smoking cigarettes. To work, they heat a vape liquid containing nicotine, solvent carriers, and other chemicals to a specific temperature, which causes the liquid to turn into a vapor. This vapor is then inhaled and exhaled.
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 ...
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.
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 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.
Why is vaping so difficult?
This is due to the difficulty in correctly identifying what they inhaled, especially when they are intubated or unconscious.
How to tell if a child is vaping?
Talk with your kids about the dangers of vaping, but also look for warning signs including: 1 Changes in emotions 2 Trouble sleeping 3 Scents of fruity odors on skin, breath and clothes 4 Strange cylinders, chargers or batteries lying around
Why is vaping so popular among teens?
First publicized as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco, vaping caught on because it didn't contain the carcinogens or tars found in most smoking tobacco products. Also, vaping was supposed to eliminate the dangers of secondhand smoke to those nearby.
How long does a vape last?
Did you know most cigarettes are smoked within two to five minutes? E-cigarettes on the other hand can last up to 20 minutes, delivering more nicotine and damaging chemicals to the lungs. In addition, some vaping mixtures can contain 20 times the nicotine that a single cigarette contains.
What is an e-cigarette?
E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid solution — usually, but not always, containing nicotine — turning it into a vapor that can be inhaled . If the base nicotine mixture is not palatable, many flavors, such as mint, apple and others, can make vaping attractive, especially to adolescents.
How to help a teenager who is vaping?
Encourage your teen to look into the warnings and media stories related to vaping, or reach out to his or her primary care provider with questions.
Is vaping bad for teens?
Adolescents often feel that bad things happen to everyone else, but the risks associated with vaping are real. Many teens are taking things a step further, adding cannabis, CBD oils and other dangerous additives to vaping devices.
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.
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:
How many people die from vaping?
There have been 1,299 reported cases of people suffering lung injuries after using electronic cigarettes or vaping products in the U.S., along with 26 official deaths, according to a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The numbers are expected to rise along with awareness ...
What is the CDC's name for vaping?
While the concept of vaping-related illness is fairly new, the CDC just revealed there’s now a name for it: e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury, aka EVALI. There’s a lot health officials still haven’t figured out about EVALI, but here’s what they do know about its potential causes, symptoms, and treatment.
What are the symptoms of EVALI specifically?
EVALI can cause symptoms that resemble those of pneumonia or the flu , the CDC warns, including the following:
What is the respiratory virus panel?
A respiratory virus panel is also recommended to rule out other illnesses and a chest CT scan. “A patient can have pneumonia or the flu,” Dr. Onugha says.
Is e-cigarettes a cause of lung cancer?
While experts know that e-cigarettes and va ping products are involved , they’re not exactly sure what it is about those products that’s causing the lung illness. The CDC did note that more than 80 percent of cases of EVALI involved products with THC (the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects). As a result, officials are looking into thickeners and additives that are found in black market THC cartridges.
Can vaping help you quit smoking?
If you’re using vaping to help you quit smoking, Dr. Tsai recommends having a conversation with your doctor. They’ll likely steer you toward an evidence-based way of quitting and using FDA-approved medications, she says.
Does vaping make you feel fat?
Some pathology reports have also shown that vaping causes fat to accumulate in the lungs, and that triggers an inflammatory response that makes it hard to breathe, says Osita Onugha, MD, a thoracic surgeon and director of thoracic surgery research and surgical innovation lab at John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif.
Why do electronic cigarettes explode?
Injuries. Electronic cigarettes use lithium-ion batteries to heat coils and produce an aerosol. On rare occasions, those batteries can malfunction, causing the device to overheat, catch fire, or even explode.
How many teens are vaping in 2018?
Health Risks Among Teens. An estimated 3.6 million middle school and high school students reported vaping in 2018, up from 2.1 million the year before. If trends hold steady, that number will continue to rise. Teens and young adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of vaping products, especially those containing nicotine.
What is electronic cigarette?
Commonly referred to as “vaping,” these products use an aerosolized vapor infused with flavors or nicotine that are then inhaled by the user.
How does an e-cigarette work?
Unlike cigarettes that work by burning to bacco and producing smoke, e-cigarettes heat up liquid to create vapor. A lot of different companies make e-cigarette products, and the kinds of ingredients found in some liquid cartridges can differ from one brand to the next. Some of the most common harmful substances found in vaping products include ...
Does vaping affect blood flow?
Another concern flagged by recent research is the potential harm vaping might have on cardiovascular health. Some chemicals found in e-cigs, such as nicotine, can affect blood flow. Studies show that regular use of electronic cigarettes could increase your chances of heart attack, stroke, and even heart disease. In fact, research shows e-cig users are almost twice as likely to experience a heart attack compared to non-users, even when analysts controlled for other known risk factors, including smoking status.
Do electronic cigarettes affect health?
Not much is known about how electronic cigarettes affect long-term health. They’re still too new, and a lot more research is needed. Recent studies, however, have started to find connections between using electronic cigarettes and serious or chronic health issues, including COPD and heart attacks.
Is vaping bad for you?
Vaping as an Alternative to Smoking. Vaping appears to be less harmful than smoking, but it’s not hard to be . Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide, killing millions of people every year. It’s linked to a jaw-dropping number of health issues, from cancer to erectile dysfunction.
How do you know if you have vaping problems?
Symptoms include: Persistent cough. Chest pain. Shortness of breath. Some users may even experience diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and fatigue before any breathing problems develop.
Can vaping cause lung injury?
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). Vaping was designed to be addictive.
What is the cause of e-cigarette evali?
Health officials point to vitamin E acetate (an additive in some THC-containing e-cigarettes) as the primary, but not the only, cause of EVALI.
How Is EVALI Diagnosed?
These include shortness of breath, fever and chills, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, rapid heartrate and chest pain. Your doctor will evaluate your history of e-cigarette use and other vaping devices, and may take a chest X-ray or CT scan to see if there are hazy spots on your lungs (called opacities) that indicate tissue damage.
What Is the Treatment for EVALI?
Treatment is based on expert recommendations and depends on the severity of the illness. Primary medication treatments include antibiotics and/or antivirals until infection is ruled out as well as corticosteroids to help fight inflammation in the lungs. Patients with more severe cases will need hospitalization and, because they may be unable to breathe on their own, could be placed on a ventilator. Even patients who have less severe symptoms may need supplemental oxygen.
Is vitamin E acetate a vaping substance?
In addition to vitamin E acetate, there are many other substances and product sources in vaping materials that are being examined as possible causes. The CDC and lung health researchers around the country are continuing to investigate.
