Vaping: What you really need to know!
👉🏼Let’s plan a game of “vaping” true or false...
First some history:
🚬Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid usually containing nicotine, producing a vapor (which is actually an aerosol) that the user inhales called “vaping” or “JUULing.” Which is a company called JUUL who’s e-cigs look like A USB device!
🚬E-cigarettes entered the market in 2003 in China and entered the United States and European markets in 2006. In many areas, e-cigarettes entered the market as consumer products without government regulation.
🚬True or False? As of this month, >1,000 lung injury cases associated with using e-cigarette, or vaping, products have been reported to CDC in the U.S. So true!
🚬True or False? Substances included in e-cigarettes are clearly labeled on the packaging. So false! Users may not know what is in their e-cigarette or e-liquid solutions. Many of the products and substances can be modified by suppliers or users. They can be obtained from stores, online retailers, from informal sources (e.g. friends, family members), or “off the street/black market.”
🚬True or False? Vaping is becoming a youth epidemic. Yes unfortunately. Over 20% of current users are teens, but the legal age to buy is 18. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has called for increasing minimum age for tobacco sales to 21.
🚬True or False? E-liquid only contains nicotine. Nope! It can contain- nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinoid (CBD) oils, metals such as tin, lead, nickel, chromium, manganese, and arsenic and of course all the flavorings that are attracting all the youth that may not even already be smokers. One flavoring, diacetyl, is linked to bronchiolitis obliterans or popcorn lung! Flavorings are within food so it should be safe right? The problem lies in that those flavorings are ingested, rather than inhaled.
🚬True or False? There have been 15 deaths so far associated with lung injury due to vaping. Yes! The investigation shows that most patients reported a history of using THC-containing products, so it is believed that THC has played a role in the outbreak.
🚬True or False? But vaping is safe, it's just water vapor. So false! Vaping companies try to convince you that their products are safe, but as you can see the above info, they really aren't!
As healthcare providers, we should be diligent about asking all patients who report e-cigarette, or vaping product use within the last 90 days about signs and symptoms of respiratory illness. These include cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, n/v, diarrhea, fatigue, fever or abdominal pain. Obviously all vague symptoms, so we have to get that social history! Please ladies, tell your doctor or provider if you vape!
Now that you know evidence based information on vaping, please use this information to make an informed decision. Also, don’t use it as an excuse to help you quit smoking traditional cigs. We don’t know the long term health risks, so don’t be a statistic.
Hope this sheds some light on vaping! This is what you really need to know!
Dr. Eđź’›
If you are a teen and want help to quit, visit: https://www.mylifemyquit.com
Sources: CDC.gov and uptodate.com
If you have a vaping story you would like to share please comment, I would love to hear it!
“Don’t ever doubt your worth. ”