Vaping, or using electronic cigarettes, has been on the rise over the past decade. It is especially popular among teenagers and young adults. Vaping can come with different devices that reflect common objects such as pens or USB drives, and different flavors including fruits or candy. You may have heard of people using it as an alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. It is often advertised as harmless; however, recent research shows that vaping can have serious risks.
How does vaping work?
Vaping involves using a device with a battery that heats up a liquid into a vapor. This vapor can then be breathed in and out through the mouth and lungs. What is included in this vapor solution? That’s a good question. Because there are so few regulations on what goes into vaping solutions, it means it’s hard to predict what ingredients are included and how much of each ingredient is included. There can be varying amounts of nicotine, flavors, THC, and other chemicals. Some of these substances can cause damage to the lungs. For example, vitamin E acetate is an ingredient in some vape liquids that was found to be linked to e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (also known as EVALI) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Research has also shown that vaping can increase symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing. It has also been linked with an increased risk of asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease. In addition to potentially causing injury to the lungs, vaping often includes nicotine which can add an addictive effect. Chronic exposure to nicotine can result in changes on the molecular level that result in withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety, and cravings.
One question that is commonly asked is whether vaping can help someone quit smoking traditional cigarettes. Doctors typically will recommend trying other medications and other nicotine-replacements first, and participating in counseling to help you quit smoking. Vaping can be as addictive as smoking, so it isn’t a good tool for quitting smoking. It’s important to talk with your doctor if you want to quit smoking to give you advice regarding the resources available to help you.
Dr. Angela Chen is a resident physician who sees patients of all ages and provides obstetrical services at Lone Star Family Health Center, a non-profit 501©3 Federally Qualified Health Center operating facilities in Conroe, Spring, Willis, Grangerland, and Huntsville, and serving as home to a fully integrated Family Medicine Residency Program to increase the number of Family Medicine physicians for Texas and our community.
