VAPING AND ITS ASSOCIATED DISEASES
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or vapes are now commonly used as an alternative to smoking cigarettes, or as a means to stop or reduce smoking. Several 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.
Is Vaping dangerous for your Health?
Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices designed to simulate the experience of regularly smoking cigarettes. To work, it heats the vape liquid containing nicotine, solvent carriers, and other chemicals to a specific temperature, causing the liquid to dissolve into a vapor. This vapor is inhaled then exhaled.
As a new and evolving product, there are little knowledge surrounding its long-term health consequences. Due to a lack of regulation, it is difficult to establish the specific chemicals or concentrations vape users inhale. Nevertheless, emerging research revealed several adverse conditions and diseases associated with vape use.
Vaping and Cardiovascular Health
Vape liquid have been found to contain glycerol and propylene glycol. 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.
Similar study found that vape users are 56% and 30% more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke, respectively, compared to non-users. Other cardiovascular issues reported include blood clot formation and coronary heart disease.
Vaping and Respiratory Health
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, linked to the inhalation of a glycerin-derived oil found in vape liquid.
Subsequent research has found that the chemical flavorings react with other chemicals producing acetals, when heated. Inhaling these flavored compounds is suggested to irritate the airways, causing an inflammatory response within the respiratory system. Additional linked short-term effects include the development of chronic cough and mucus.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is championing an outbreak investigation to better understand the link between e-cigarettes or vaping products use and lung injury (EVALI). Thus far, over 2100 cases have been reported, and 42 vape-user deaths have occurred. The CDC is recommending that all persons avoid using vaping and e-cigarette products, pending the resolution of this outbreak.
Vaping and Mental Health
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.
Vaping and Nicotine Dependency
However, many health professionals worry that vaping – as a nicotine delivery system – may further trigger nicotine dependency in adults and high school-aged children. Flavorings in vaping products have also been linked with increased nicotine intake as opposed to its preferred use to quit or reduce smoking.
Complementary research has shown that people who start smoking vapes are more likely to then move onto traditional cigarette smoking, compared to non-vape users. This trend is mainly considered to affect young people and adolescents and may be caused by the onset of nicotine addiction amongst users.
Vaping to Quit Smoking
The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of vapes for smoking cessation due to conflicting and limited credible data concerning the long-term implications. Meanwhile, traditional smoking cessation means, such as nicotine chewing gums and skin patches are recommended by healthcare providers and health authorities.
In the UK, the NHS argues that using an e-cigarette may increase your chance of quitting smoking. However, it has been noted that when used in conjunction with face-to-face therapy, those who used vaping to stop smoking were twice as likely to stop when compared to those using nicotine replacement products solely.
It is important to note that many of the studies within this field have found small effects suggesting more extensive research is needed to analyze the implications of long-term usage. Furthermore, some studies fail to establish causalities in their research, only establishing a correlational relationship between the variables.
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