Is It Safe to Vaping?

Vaping has been a new rage these days. Vaping became a so-called alternative to smoking. Like smoking one would inhale the nicotine, with vaping a person is still inhaling though it is an aerosol, a warm liquid packed full of nicotine, providing the same results of a cigarette without the smoke. The e-cigarette or vape pen is battery operated and has different cartridges. These cartridges contain not only nicotine but flavors, chemicals, some contain THC and CBD oil.

Vaping has taken over teens, and young adults like a tornado since these products have not been regulated until now.

1. Vaping can cause not only death but lung cancer, brain issues, heart issues, along with cancerous tumors. The symptoms are couching, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, fever, and tiredness.
2. Vaping is not a good alternative to quit smoking. Some say that vaping is still safer than smoking, though if one steps back and evaluate - it is the same just delivered in a different package. Here is an analogy. You have two cars- the same manufacturer. Toyota and Acura. They are the same vehicle; the Acura has a little bit fancier buttons and extras. It is no different from smoking and vaping. The effect is the same just with fancier buttons and extras. Nicotine is still addictive and is still getting into your system just like regular smoking.
3. Quality Control on vaping is literally non-existent. Therefore, the amount of the nicotine dose a person is truly receiving and what other chemicals are being administered while vaping is a whole different avenue. The standards for vape companies has not been made, until now. Quality Control Standards need to be put into place for the public's sake.
4. Vaping in public is not safe. Nicotine is still being spread outside to others that didn't choose to use vape pens. The nicotine factor is still present and the issue of second-hand vaping chemicals puts a lot of people at risk.
5. Vaping is not made with water vapors, this is a misconception. Vaping is made with aerosol chemical vapors and small particles that are inhaled.
6. Long term effects of vaping have been unknown, until now.

The States that were affected by respiratory illness are:

1. Arkansas
2. California
3. Colorado
4. Connecticut
5. Deleware
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. Hawaii
9. Iowa
10. Indiana
11. Ilinois
12. Kansas
13. Kentucky
14. Louisans
15. Maryland
16. Michigan
17. Minnesota
18. North Carolina
19. North Dakota
20. Nebraska
21. New Jersey
22. New Mexico
23. Nevada
24. New York
25. Ohio
26. Oregon
27. South Carolina
28. Tennesse
29. Texas
30. Utah
31. Virginia
32. Washington
33. Wisconsin
34. West Virginia
35. U.S. Virgin Island

The Federal Drug Administration and the Center for Disease Control have reported over 450 individuals for possible respiratory illness, though confirmed cases of the respiratory illness have been reduced to 380 confirmed individuals (cases) as of September 11, 2019. Respiratory illnesses are due to vaping. The 380 confirmed individuals with the respiratory illness have a history using e-cigarettes or vaping. The actual product, chemical and amount of which product have not been determined. The investigation is still ongoing at this time.

Both the FDA.gov and the CDC.gov have reported 6 deaths were in the following states: California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, and Oregon. The deaths have not been linked solely to the use of the THC. THC vaping products, that are said to be the "street vaping marijuana."

The Federal Drug Administration states that vitamin E has been found within the vaping THC product, though still investigating to see if that is the cause of the multiple respiratory illnesses. Through their ongoing investigation, the respiratory illness is not subject to just one product such as the THC vaping products. The THC vaping products have been reported mostly by the individuals that have contracted the respiratory illnesses along with nicotine vaping products. Hence, other products seem to also have a play in this respiratory illness breakout. The Center For Disease Control is assisting the Federal Drug Administration in finding out how many products are actually involved.

These individuals or "cases" have experienced the following symptoms:

1. Breathing difficulty
2. Shortness of breath
3. Chest pain
4. Mild to moderate gastrointestinal illness
5. Vomiting
6. Diarrhea
7. Fever
8. Fatigue

Patients have reported that symptoms have occurred a few days later.

The Trump Administration is eagerly pushing forth its regulation of flavored e-cigarettes, and the FDA has begun to write the policy and will come into effect within the coming weeks. The policy is said to make it non-existent to market flavored e-cigarettes altogether. The other factors of the policy have not been revealed.

This past June 2019 e-cigarettes have been classified as tobacco in some states. The Youth can no longer purchase e-cigarettes and June 2019 the age to purchase is different from state to state, though the youngest age is at the legal age of 18, some states require 19 years of age, while others opt to have 21 be the legal age to purchase e-cigarettes. This went into effect June 2019.

Is it Safe to Vaping? The information gathered from the deaths and the 380 confirmed cases of respiratory illness suggest, no.

Vaping is so new and it is now being seen how deadly it can be. One may not feel the effects of the damage while vaping and sometimes it can be too late. As per the records of deaths.

Therefore it is recommended to stop e-cigarettes and vaping products if you are concerned about the health risks and damage from e-cigarettes (vaping).

The Center for Disease Control is warning individuals to NOT purchase any vaping or e-cigarettes that contain the THC and not to purchase off the street, nor alter the e-cigarettes or the vaping products.

Even though the Center For Disease Control warns to stop, individuals have their choice to continue to vape and to purchase e-cigarettes.

The Center For Disease Control highly recommends that if you are concerned about the safety risks at hand while vaping, to stop vaping immediately until the investigation is complete and more information is gathered.

We will know more in the next few weeks of the regulations on the new ban, and any more confirmed cases and deaths.

If you have symptoms, see your physician immediately or go to the emergency room.

This article is for educational and informational purposes only, not to diagnose or to treat.

https://www.fda.gov

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease/need-to-know/index.html

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/statement-federal-and-state-collaboration-investigate-respiratory-illnesses-reported-after-use-e

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html

https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/us-e-cigarette-regulations-50-state-review

https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/11/trump-administration-is-readying-tighter-regulations-on-e-cigarettes-including-ban-on-flavorings/