Vaping gets a lot of bad press. Positive reports are drowned out by coverage of hypothetical dangers and exaggerated risks.
Inhaling e-cigarette liquid exposes the lungs to harmful chemicals and metals, including formaldehyde and acrolein. It also causes irritation and inflammation in the lungs. It also irritates the mouth and throat.
Marketing to young people
E-cigarette companies are targeting youth through social media marketing. The advertisements for e-cigarettes are designed to appeal to youth by inciting curiosity, showing vaping as something new and exciting, and using attractive visuals. The advertisements are also aimed at attracting youth by including popular teen and music culture icons such as celebrities, athletes, and musicians. These marketing tactics are resulting in high rates of youth vaping.
The recent surge in youth vaping has captured the attention of public health advocates and government regulators. Juul has been especially aggressive in marketing its products to teens. As a result, many young people are unaware of the serious risks of using the device. However, this is largely due to the fact that the industry has not done much to educate teenagers about the dangers of the device.
A new study published in Pediatrics found that adolescent exposure to online marketing is one of the main predictors of vaping among youth. The researchers used a scoping review to analyze vaping ads on social media and discovered 4 overall categories and 16 subcategories associated with the ads’ appeal to youth. These categories include personal influences, such as removing negative emotions (eg, daily stress or boredom), recreational influences, such as vaping for fun or as an activity with peers, and curiosity, which refers to a desire to try a new product or experience.
Addiction to nicotine
Vaping has become an increasingly popular way to get nicotine, and some people are addicted. It isn’t as harmful as smoking cigarettes, but it still has some health risks. Some of these include respiratory problems and the risk of heart disease, but it also has some positive effects. It can lower the toxins in your body, improve breathing and sense of taste, and save you money. It can even help you quit smoking tobacco and other products that contain nicotine.
Nicotine is an addictive drug that disrupts the normal relationship between a neurotransmitter (chemical communicator) called acetylcholine and the receptors it attaches to. The replacement of acetylcholine by nicotine leads to temporary feel-good sensations, such as relaxation, alertness or focus, and euphoria. It also increases dopamine in the brain, a chemical involved in mood.
Some people develop a physical addiction to nicotine, which can be exacerbated by stress or other triggers. Developing a plan to quit vaping is an important step, and it can be helpful to have support from friends or family members. You can also find support groups online that teach coping skills and provide fellowship with others who are quitting.
Teens who vape are at increased risk of depression and anxiety, as well as cognitive and memory problems. Their developing brains are affected by nicotine use, and it interferes with their learning abilities by disturbing acetylcholine receptors in the brain. This can lead to poor performance in school and a lack of self-control.
Second-hand exposure
If you live with a vaper, your health may be at risk from second-hand exposure. Although e-cigarettes don’t emit side stream smoke, the vapor they produce contains many of the same chemicals as traditional tobacco smoke. This vapor includes nicotine, ultra-fine particles, and low levels of toxins that can cause cancer. It also contains volatile organic compounds, such as acrolein, formaldehyde, and crotonaldehyde, which can cause irritation to the lungs. It also contains food additives, such as diacetyl, which can impair the function of cilia in the lungs. These chemicals can be harmful for everyone, but they are especially dangerous for infants and children.
When someone relevant vapes in a room, the chemicals in the vapor rise into the air and settle on surfaces. This is known as third-hand vape aerosol. It can cause respiratory problems in adults and children, and may even trigger asthma symptoms in those who already have the condition. It is also harmful for pregnant women, as it can increase the chances of premature birth and lower birth weight.
A recent study found that second-hand nicotine vape vapor is associated with an increased risk of bronchitic symptoms and shortness of breath in young adults. The researchers used mixed effect logistic regression models to evaluate the association between second-hand nicotine vape vapor and these respiratory symptoms, as well as a number of other factors. The models were adjusted for sex, race/ethnicity, baseline age and parental education.
Lung damage
E-cigarettes or “relevant vapes” produce aerosols that contain nicotine, vegetable glycerin, metal and other chemicals. The inhaled vapor also contains flavoring. These ingredients can cause lung damage, like scarring and narrowing of the tubes that bring air in and out of the lungs. Scientists are only beginning to understand the long-term effects of vaping.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments are investigating reports of severe lung illnesses linked to e-cigarette or vaping product use. The illnesses are known as EVALI or e-cigarette/vaping-product associated lung injury.
These illnesses have been reported in people of all ages, but they most often affect teens and young adults who are heavy vapers. They can lead to bronchitis, pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The symptoms of these illnesses include shortness of breath, cough and chest pain.
Radiographs of patients with EVALI often show multilobar ground-glass opacities or consolidation with subpleural sparing, and a clinical presentation resembling hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Histopathologic findings on biopsy often resemble lipoid pneumonia with accumulation of foamy macrophages and vacuolization of type 2 pneumocytes.
In addition to treating EVALI, doctors must educate youths on the dangers of using vapes. They can help them find ways to quit smoking or reduce their vaping habits to minimize their exposure to the harmful chemicals in vapor. They should also be advised to use vaporizers that do not contain any tobacco or cannabinoids (the psychoactive component of marijuana).