How Vaping Can Lead to Lung Illnesses

There have been thousands of reports of serious lung illnesses associated with vaping, including dozens of deaths. The Food and Drug Administration is working with state and local health officials to investigate what’s causing these illnesses. Some of these victims reported using cartridges containing both nicotine and THC, the psychotropic ingredient in marijuana. Others reported using just nicotine cartridges, which have been marketed as e-cigarettes or “puff bars.”

Vaping is a way to inhale an aerosol that looks like water vapor but contains chemicals, including nicotine, flavoring and metal particles. These devices are popular among teens, who may not realize they are inhaling a chemical that’s addictive and can damage their bodies, brains and lungs. Some teens think vaping is safer than smoking traditional cigarettes because they don’t produce smoke. But vaping exposes users to a different set of lung-damaging chemicals and can lead to addiction, which is harder to stop than smoking.

Nicotine hurts your brain development, increases your blood pressure and narrows the tubes that bring oxygen in and out of your lungs. And diacetyl, a chemical added to some flavors, can cause bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung), which can lead to permanent scarring and make it hard to breathe. These substances can also be harmful to your heart and kidneys.

One pod delivers as much nicotine as 20 regular cigarettes. And the adolescent brain is more susceptible to addiction than adults’. It’s very important to talk to your kids about the risks of vaping and help them understand that even “just a little” can have dangerous effects.

Sarah, a mom in Ann Arbor, MI, was surprised to get a call from her middle school telling her her son was being suspended for vaping after school and needed her to come pick him up. He and two friends had been vaping on the school grounds. The principal said they were using a “vapor device” and not a regular cigarette, but they looked just like a cigarette. Sarah says she’s concerned the vaping ban could affect her son’s social life.

A parent can take steps to keep kids from vaping, including making sure they have access to only healthy food, getting enough sleep and limiting their screen time. And if you do have a teen who’s been vaping, try to get them to quit by picking a day to quit and removing all of their supplies. Be sure to encourage them to text or call supportive friends for help and encouragement. And chew sugar-free gum or drink water to avoid the withdrawal symptoms.

It’s also important for schools to own this issue and educate their students. The FDA’s Tobacco Education Resource Library has a lot of age-appropriate, standards-mapped materials teachers can use to help their students understand the risks. And if your child is already addicted to vaping, a therapist can help them quit and support them while they go through the withdrawal. The signs of withdrawal are strongest in the first few days and weeks after quitting.vape