Can Vaping Cause Pneumonia

Vaping is associated with lipoid pneumonia. This is not similar to the usual type of pneumonia which is brought about by infection. Lipoid pneumonia is caused by fatty acids which are the building blocks of fat to enter the lungs. Lipoid pneumonia from vaping is brought about by the inhalation of oily substances that are found in e-juice. This e-liquid is what triggers the inflammatory response in the lungs. Some of its symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic cough, and coughing up blood-tinged mucus or blood. There is no exact treatment for lipid pneumonia apart from supportive care. You just have to wait for the lungs to heal by themselves.

Another type of pneumonia is called chemical pneumonia. It is an unusual form of pneumonia that is caused by a chemical substance that injures the lungs. Because of the multiple chemical pollutants and contaminants that are found in the air, it may be hard for doctors to figure out the specific chemical substances that cause chemical pneumonia.

The flavor pods designed for e-cigarettes contain a lot of chemical substances that the user ingests when vaping. One of these chemicals is diacetyl. This has been shown to cause scarring that results in the condition popularly known as “popcorn lung.”

Knowing the increasing cases that link pneumonia and other lung diseases to vaping, it is important to consider these facts before using any vaping products. It is important to understand the potential long-term and short-term health risks of vaping. Non-smokers, pregnant women, and those who already quit smoking must avoid vaping. Young people must be taught to understand the dangers of nicotine addiction and should be encouraged to avoid vaping. If you are a vaper, monitor yourself for any symptoms that might affect your lungs and inform your health care provider that you vape. If you are planning to quit smoking or vaping, consult a health care professional for any options you have.

Is Vaping Bad for Your Lungs

Vaping is certainly not without detriment to one’s lungs. As the use of e-cigarettes continues, experts will have better insights into the effects of vaping on one’s lungs. As of now, it has been linked to several lung diseases. These include popcorn lung, lipoid pneumonia, and pneumothorax.

Popcorn lung is bronchiolitis obliterans (OB). This is a rare condition wherein the lungs’ small airways are damaged. This was first discovered when factory workers became sick due to diacetyl which is a food additive that is used for coming up with butter flavor for microwave popcorn. Diacetyl is also added to a flavored e-liquid for enhancing the taste. The inhalation of diacetyl may result in inflammation. This may also lead to permanent scarring within the tiniest branches of airways, popularly known as popcorn lung which makes breathing difficult. There is no lasting cure for this condition, but some treatments can help manage the symptoms.

Lipoid pneumonia can be another result of vaping. This develops when fatty acids get into the lungs. This is brought about by ingesting the oily substances that are found in e-liquid. This starts an inflammatory impact within the lungs. No treatment is intended for lipoid pneumonia besides supportive care for the lungs to heal on their own.

Pneumothorax or collapsed lung is another condition wherein a hole occurs in the lung through which oxygen escapes. This may be caused by an injury like a knife stabbing or gunshot. In this condition, the air blisters on the lung’s top rupture and they result in the formation of tiny tears. Smoking as well as vaping are often linked to the risk of bursting such blisters which leads to lung collapse. Oxygen support and rest are all that can be done to help address lung collapse.

It’s crucial to take note that vaping may be a good alternative to smoking only when used appropriately and only for that purpose…

Is Vaping Dangerous

The use of e-cigarettes is not totally safe. However, most experts consider it to be safer than tobacco cigarettes. Cigarette smoking is killing almost half a million people a year in the US alone. The harm comes from the thousands of chemicals that are burned and inhaled in the cigarette smoke. On the other hand, e-cigarettes don’t burn so people are not really exposed to toxins. In 2015, an expert Public Health England review revealed that e-cigs are 95 percent less harmful compared to cigarette smoking.

Some health risks are also linked to the chemicals in various vaping products. Vaping substances contain fewer but more diverse chemicals than those found in tobacco products. The two main liquids that you can find in vaping products are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine. They have been considered by the FDA as safe for use in consumer items like sweeteners and cosmetics. However, there is no information about the long-term effects of inhaling such chemicals in vaping products, and this is continuously being assessed. The chemicals that are used to add flavor to vaping products are also used by food manufacturers to add flavors to their food products. These substances are safe to eat, but they have not been tested to determine if they are safe to be inhaled.

No burning is involved while vaping, but the vaping process requires the e-liquid to be heated. This process produces chemicals like formaldehyde. Moreover, there may be some contaminants like tin, aluminum, nickel that may get into the vaping products and then right into the vapor. There are factors that contribute to the number of chemicals the vaper is exposed to which include the type of vaping device, device settings, user behavior patterns, battery power, type of e-liquid, and the amount of nicotine. The higher the power and temperature settings of vaping products, the more chemicals they can produce. 

Can You Get Cancer From Vaping?

It’s difficult to say that there is a direct link between vaping and cancer. When you vape as a means to get rid of tobacco smoking, you are decreasing the chances of your being at risk of getting cancer. However, if you are not a smoker and would like to start vaping, then you are increasing your cancer risk. The problem starts when there are smokers who are also vapers. There are still a few studies on the long-term effects of vaping particularly on being a cancer cause. This is because vaping is a relatively new practice compared to smoking. It may take a while before the effects of vaping can be determined.        

Vaping has not been proven to cause cancer, but it increases the risk of getting certain types of cancer like lung, bladder, and oral. In the long run, vaping may be linked to more types of cancer. Most of the studies conducted focused still on lungs. A 2017 animal study showed that e-cigarette vapor resulted in changes in DNA and gene levels that may increase cancer risk. In a 2018 animal study, it was discovered that e-cigarettes may contribute to lung as well as bladder cancer in humans.

Some e-juices contain nicotine and based on research, nicotine exposure is linked to cancer risk. A 2018 animal study showed that nicotine coming from the e-cig vapor may damage DNA, enhance cell mutation, and limit DNA repair.

The E-juice flavor may have an impact on cancer risk. This is why every vaper has to be selective and careful. Based on a 2018 study on teens who vape, e-juice that have fruit-based flavors contain higher percentages of acrylonitrile, which is a toxic chemical substance. It is considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a possible human carcinogen. A 2016 study revealed that there are e-juice flavors that are more toxic to lung cells.

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