Latest news with #EVALI
Medscape
6 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Counsel Patients on Vaping's Irreversible Lung Risks
This transcript has been edited for clarity. Hi, everyone. My name is Dr Chandrasekaran. I'm here today to talk to you about vaping. Vaping has become a global health epidemic affecting everyone from high schoolers all the way to adults. This has gained popularity in recent years, butwhat people don't know is that vaping has now been shown to be linked to irreversible lung damage. It has been linked to conditions such as bronchiolitis obliterans, which is narrowing and scarring of the small airways due to diacetyl, which is found in nicotine liquid in vapes. Also, vaping has been linked to lung collapse,which can then cause hospitalizations and require patients to have chest tubes, or EVALI, which is a significant, life-threatening disease that can leave patients on a ventilator. It's important for us to counsel our patients and to advise our patients that these risk factors do exist when using their vapes every day or even socially on only takes one time to try it to end up with any of these irreversible lung conditions.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Young Edge: Why vaping or e-cigarettes continue to lure Pune young adults despite risks
Written by Siddhi Pati, Despite being banned, vapes are popular among young adults in Pune as many are under the assumption that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, while others are simply drawn to the trend under peer influence. Vaping or electronic cigarettes are banned under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (2019). A Kharadi resident, who did not want to be named, said he has several friends addicted to vaping. He added that most people don't think it is harming their health until they start feeling symptoms like throat irritation or a heaviness in their voice. 'Vapes are easy to access, even though they're illegal, since many big smoke shops continue to sell them. I have seen these shops import vapes and e-cigarettes from African, South Asian, and especially Gulf countries,' he said. A student from Viman Nagar shared that there is a perception that smoking is old and unhealthy. 'Even if vaping isn't completely healthy, it feels like a better option, since it also causes less discomfort.' Many users have said that youngsters try out vaping to seek new experiences and later on at least become active tobacco smokers. A student from Kothrud admitted, 'I go to house parties, and even if I don't want to use the vape, it just gets passed around. And I end up smoking it.' A vaping addict pointed out the emotional pressure involved in the process. 'I got into it under peer pressure, and now it has gotten very difficult to quit. And unlike cigarettes, vapes have a variety. So, it's not the feeling of smoking and the nicotine hit. It's also the fact that there is so much more to try. I can carry them everywhere I go. I just need to charge, and it's ready,' she said. Another student from Lohegaon highlighted how easy it is to get hooked, 'I think it's the kick of nicotine that makes vapes so addictive. They are very easily available in every other smoke shop for Rs 2,000–Rs 3,000.' According to psychologists, vapes and e-cigarettes contain addictive chemicals that make quitting hard. 'Many young adults use vaping as a coping mechanism to deal with difficult emotions. Over time, it becomes a habit. They vape when bored, sad, or anxious. Vapes and e-cigarettes are also marketed as sleek and sophisticated, adding to the factor of increased peer-pressure among young adults, and driving them to use these devices,' explained Shreyash Chhajed, clinical psychologist. Health professionals have warned against the common misconception that vaping is a safe alternative. 'They deliver nicotine, which raises heart rate and blood pressure. E-cigarettes also release substances like formaldehyde and TSNAs, which can increase cancer risk. For the lungs, vaping can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and even conditions like EVALI and 'popcorn lung,' said Dr Vivek Gaikwad, Pune-based cardiologist. The fact that the combination of easy access, peer influence, emotional dependence, and lack of awareness continues to fuel this growing trend is a matter of concern among health experts. Vaping may feel safer than smoking, but the risks are real and rising, they said. (Siddhi Patil is an intern with The Indian Express)
Mint
03-06-2025
- Health
- Mint
How harmful are electronic cigarettes?
RESTRICTIONS on vaping are multiplying. Belgium banned sales of disposable vapes on January 1st. France adopted a similar law on February 24th. Other bans on 'puffs", as these single-use electronic cigarettes are also known, may soon come into force in England, Scotland, Wales and New Zealand. The law in the last of those, which takes effect on June 17th, even prohibits specialist retailers from speaking with existing customers about vaping products. More than 30 countries including Brazil and India have outlawed all vaping products. Are such measures justified? Vaping clearly carries risks. Starting in 2019, America's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began to track a new inflammatory respiratory disease known as EVALI ('e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury"). As of February 18th 2020, the CDC had identified 2,807 admissions to hospital for EVALI in America. At least 68 of those patients had died. Swift action ensued. Researchers pointed fingers at vitamin E acetate, a skincare oil that was added to many illicit batches of vaping liquids as a thickening agent. When vitamin E acetate is vaporised by a vape's heating coil, highly toxic ketene gas is produced. Many jurisdictions outlawed any addition of vitamin E acetate to vape liquids, and crackdowns on black markets followed. EVALI cases fell sharply; the CDC has not detected a resurgence. Yet health authorities believe EVALI might also be caused by other substances in vape aerosols, including those that are manufactured legally. In a landmark analysis of four popular vaping liquids published in Chemical Research in Toxicology in 2021, a team at Johns Hopkins University labelled six ingredients—including caffeine and tributylphosphine oxide, a pesticide precursor—as potentially hazardous. Earlier studies had found vaping mixtures that used formaldehyde, as well as heavy metals such as chromium and lead. There are other reasons to be concerned. First, as vaping surged in popularity only in the past dozen or so years, cancer cases could still crop up. Lab mice, which can develop diseases quickly owing to their fast metabolisms, have developed cancers after being subjected to vape aerosols. The second is that vape aerosols have been found to damage human tissue, including DNA, via a process called oxidative stress. This sounds grim. Yet researchers mostly concur that vaping is less harmful than smoking. Of the more than 7,000 substances generated by burning tobacco, over 70 have been linked to cancer, and a greater number are toxic. Vape aerosols share some of those carcinogens and toxins, but generally at much lower levels. Crucially, vapes produce no carbon monoxide or tar, two of the biggest nasties in cigarette smoke. A review of 39 studies that was published in January in Tobacco Induced Diseases found 'no significant incident or prevalent risk" of cancer in vapers who had never smoked. What is more, taking up vaping, which mimics smoking gestures, seems to make the latter habit easier to kick. Consider a study of 886 British smokers published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2019. All wanted to stop smoking. Roughly half were given nicotine via gum, mouth spray, patches and the like. The rest were given nicotine vapes. A year on, 10% of the first group had quit smoking. The figure for those given vaping kits was 18%. And among participants still smoking, the vapers had been lighting fewer cigarettes. Curious about the world? To enjoy our mind-expanding science coverage, sign up to Simply Science, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.
New Straits Times
03-06-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Ban vape sales nationwide, says Segamat MP
KUALA LUMPUR: A member of parliament has called on the government to impose a total ban on the sale and distribution of electronic cigarettes or vape products, citing the escalating threat they pose to public health, especially among youths. Segamat MP R. Yuneswaran said the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes among teenagers poses a significant threat to their well-being, with data showing that 14.9 per cent of adolescents aged 13 to 17 were vaping in 2022, up from 9.8 per cent in 2017. "This sharp increase reflects a disturbing rise in nicotine addiction among the younger generation and has serious implications for their physical and mental health," he said in a statement today. He cited medical studies showing that the nicotine content in vape liquids can impair brain development, memory and focus in teenagers, while also increasing the risk of anxiety, depression and future substance abuse. Yuneswaran also highlighted several vape-related health incidents, including a 16-year-old girl who died of acute heart failure linked to EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury), and a two-year-old child who suffered long-term neurological complications after ingesting vape liquid. As of mid-June 2023, the Health Ministry had reported 17 cases of EVALI nationwide. Yuneswaran also did not agree with the government's decision to exempt nicotine vape liquids from the Poisons Act, allowing them to be sold freely, and said the removal of the Generational End Game (GEG) clause from recent legislation was a missed opportunity to protect future generations. "The cost of treating vape-related illnesses could reach RM369 million annually by 2030, nearly offsetting the projected vape tax revenue of RM500 million. "This highlights the unsustainable burden on our public health system," he said. Several states, including Johor, Kedah and Terengganu, have already taken steps to prohibit vape sales by refusing to renew business licences for vape retailers. "These efforts must be extended nationwide. The government must act decisively. "Short-term tax gains should never outweigh long-term health consequences," Yuneswaran said.
Forbes
14-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Cannabis Smoking Declines As Vaping And Edibles Surge, CDC Finds
While smoking is still the most common method of using cannabis, alternative methods like vaping and edibles are growing in popularity, according to a new survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC report published last week provides an overview of how adults in the U.S. consume cannabis based on the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), an annual telephone survey of health behaviors among adults in all 50 states, DC, and three territories. The survey included participants from 22 states and two territories. Today, medical cannabis is legal in 39 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia. Of these, 24 states also have legalized cannabis for recreational use. The report shows that, in 2022, smoking was still the most frequent method of cannabis use among adults who had used cannabis within the previous 30 days, with 79.4% of users choosing it, confirming smoking's traditional role as the dominant form of cannabis consumption. Other methods, however, have gained significant traction: 41.6% of users reported eating cannabis, 30.3% reported vaping, and 14.6% reported dabbing, which involves inhaling vaporized cannabis extracts. The CDC data from the 2016 survey in 12 states shows a clear shift in how adults in the U.S. are using cannabis. In 2016, smoking was the most used method, with 90.1% of users reporting it as their primary form of consumption, while only 58.3% used smoking exclusively. By 2022, smoking remained the most common method, but the percentage dropped to 79.4%. In 2022, however, other methods gained popularity: 41.6% of users consumed cannabis edibles (up from 24.5% in 2016), 30.3% vaped (a significant increase from 19.4%), and 14.6% dabbed (a new method not recorded in 2016). These trends represent a growing shift toward more diverse cannabis use as people increasingly combine methods. This change is most likely due to greater product availability, shifting preferences, and changes in cannabis regulations. New types of cannabis products, such as oils, gummies, and concentrates, may be driving this shift. Additionally, new technology, particularly in the vaping industry, may have played a role, offering a better experience than what was available in 2016. The rise in popularity of dabbing and vaping aligns with patterns among youth and young adults, where high-potency products are gaining traction. In particular, vaping and dabbing were most popular among young adults aged 18–24 years. Nearly 45% of them consumed cannabis by vaping, and 28.4% dabbed, showing the trend towards high-potency methods of use among youth. These methods of consumption are often associated with increased THC exposure and a higher risk of adverse effects such as acute psychosis, cannabis use disorder, or lung injury caused by toxins, an issue highlighted during the 2019 EVALI outbreak, according to the CDC report. 'This shift in routes of use among younger persons could lead to exposure to higher concentrations of THC at an age when brain development is still occurring, and thus increase the risk for cannabis use disorder, injuries, or acute psychosis,' the report reads. As nearly half (46.7%) of cannabis users report using two or more methods, such as smoking and eating or smoking and vaping, the report suggests that many are exploring different experiences or benefits. This shift reflects a broader trend towards more diverse user preferences, driven by factors like product availability, perceived health benefits, and social or cultural influences. However, the CDC warns that while 41.6% of cannabis users consume it in edible form, which doesn't affect the lungs, it comes with its own risks. Because the effects take longer to kick in, people often end up taking higher doses than intended. Edibles also pose a risk to children if they're left out, highlighting the need for secure packaging and better consumer awareness.
