Vaping devices – also known as e-cigarettes, e-hookahs, vape pens and mods – are battery-operated devices used to inhale an aerosol, which typically contains nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals.  In recent months, there has been an outbreak of a severe lung illness called E-cigarette or Vaping product use Associated Lung Injury (EVALI).  The illness was first recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in August 2019 when the number of Emergency Department (ED) visits across the country rose sharply.  Patients who experienced shortness of breath or fever were hospitalized, and experts and researchers soon discovered that all of these cases involved the patient using e-cigarettes.
 
E-cigarettes work by heating an e-liquid, or e-juice, to produce a vapor that users inhale into their lungs.  Nicotine is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream when a person vapes.  Many people have switched to using e-cigarettes because they believe vaping devices may help to lower nicotine cravings and be less harmful than regular cigarettes.  However, nicotine is highly addictive in any form, and the use of e-cigarettes exposes the lungs to other harmful substances found in e-liquids, including additives and chemicals produced during the heating process.
 
According to the CDC, more than 80 percent of EVALI cases involved products containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the chemical found in marijuana.  Vitamin E acetate, an additive typically used in e-cigarettes containing THC, also has been linked to the EVALI outbreak.  As of February, a total of 2,758 hospitalized EVALI cases or deaths have been reported to the CDC from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.  The latest national and state findings suggest that products containing THC, specifically those acquired off the street, are linked to most EVALI cases that played a role in the outbreak last fall.
 
Diagnosing EVALI can be difficult because the condition can cause symptoms that resemble those of other respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia or the flu.  Symptoms include cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, fever and chills.  In some instances, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can occur.  Severe cases may require intensive care and the use of a ventilator to assist the patient with breathing.  There is no specific test for EVALI; therefore, physicians must take a detailed health history of the patient and also inquire about the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products.  A patient may be diagnosed with EVALI if they have reported vaping within the last 90 days, if a chest X-ray shows dark or hazy spots in the lungs, and tests for other viruses and bacteria are negative.
 
Because there are still many unknown risks of vaping, the CDC recommends that children, young adults, and pregnant women should not vape.  Individuals should not use e-cigarettes or vaping products that contain THC, particularly those that are purchased from unauthorized sources such as friends, family, and in-person or online dealers.
 
E-cigarettes, or vaping products, are not an FDA-approved smoking cessation aid, and there is no conclusive scientific evidence to prove that vaping helps a person quit smoking long term.  A healthcare provider can recommend quitting methods that are safe and effective to people who want to stop smoking.  Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) offers a Quit for Your Health Tobacco Cessation Program with Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists for Licking County residents.  The counselors utilize evidence-based techniques to help participants develop a plan that will offer an opportunity to become tobacco-free.  Smokers who wish to quit can either ask their primary care physician for more information or simply call (220) 564-QUIT (7848).