Happy Hump Day Dr. Tami!
There has been a lot in the news recently regarding deaths from vaping and I would be remiss if I did not share my thoughts. I remember when e-cigarettes aka vaping first came to the market for mass use and I was very skeptical. Very little was known about this product at the time. They seemed like a gimmick to me designed to entice the young and those who thought they were cooler than regular cigarettes. E-cigarettes were also touted as a healthy alternative to help people to quit smoking.
Part of taking a complete history during patient appointments is asking social history questions like “do you smoke cigarettes?” I had patients quickly rebuke smoking cigarettes but proudly revealed that they vape. I found myself spending more and more time making sure that patients understood that e-cigarettes were not harmless and encouraged them to discontinue use. At the time I didn’t have any real proof that e-cigarettes were worse than regular cigarettes but my gut told me otherwise. Turns out my gut was right.
Most e-cigarettes still contain nicotine and may also contain cancer-causing chemicals, tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, and heavy metals such as lead. In addition to causing damage to the lungs, e-cigarettes can also be harmful to developing adolescent brains. E-cigarettes are especially harmful to youth, young adults, and pregnant women and thus are not recommended for use in these age groups. Despite this, youth are more likely to use e-cigarettes.
Why are people dying suddenly from vaping? According to the CDC, there are five (5) confirmed deaths as of this newsletter with over 450 possible cases of lung illness and acute lung injury spanning 33 states and 1 territory. Some patients use e-cigarettes containing cannabinoid products, such as THC though current investigation has not identified any single substance or e-cigarette product that has been consistently associated with illness. Nevertheless, physicians are on high alert to patients with complaints of shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms similar to pneumonia. Symptoms can develop over several days or several weeks. Antibiotics will not improve symptoms as no infectious disease can be found and may actually delay diagnosis.
It is extremely important to report e-cigarette use to your physician so that your medical team has an accurate and complete picture of your medical history. If you or anyone that you know to experience symptoms please seek medical care immediately. Delay in care can be detrimental.
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To your good health,
Tami M. Prince, M.D.
The Nation’s Bedside Doctor
“Turning patients into advocates”
www.nationsbedsidedoctor.com