The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Nov. 5, 2019, that 2,051 lung injury cases attributed to e-cigarette or vaping use have been reported in 49 states, and 40 deaths ascribed to e-cigarette use have been confirmed in 24 states and the District of Columbia.
At this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC have not identified the cause or causes of the lung injuries in these cases, and the only commonality among all cases is that patients report the use of e-cigarette or vaping products.
According to The American Journal of Medicine, e-cigarettes were introduced to the American marketplace in 2007. E-cigarettes are electronic devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol, or mix of small particles in the air. They come in many shapes and sizes and most have a battery, a heating element and a place to hold a liquid.
In many instances, e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars or pipes. Some resemble USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items.
According to the CDC, e-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals that help to make the aerosol. Users inhale e-cigarette aerosol into their lungs that bystanders can also breathe in when the user exhales.
A recent CDC study found that 99 percent of e-cigarettes sold in assessed venues in the United States contain nicotine, the addictive drug found in regular cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products. Some e-cigarette labels do not disclose that they contain nicotine, and some e-cigarettes marketed as containing 0 percent nicotine have been found to contain nicotine.
Many e-cigarettes come in fruit, candy and other kid-friendly flavors, such as mango and crème, and most youth cite the variety of flavors as the primary reason for using e-cigarettes. Those devices are advertised using the identical themes and tactics that have been exhibited to increase youth initiation of other tobacco products, including cigarettes. In 2016, about 8 in 10 middle school and high school students – more than 20 million youth – said they had seen e-cigarette advertising.
According to the CDC, many young people tried e-cigarettes because they were curious about those products when they were new, and because they believe they are less harmful than conventional cigarettes.
As the evidence showing the dangers of vaping continues to accumulate, there are strategies parents may implement that can help prevent their children from taking part in this activity.
Parents can set a good example by living their own lives tobacco-free and ensure that their children are not exposed to secondhand emissions from tobacco products including e-cigarettes. If you are a tobacco user, quit as soon as possible, and talk to your children at an early age about why e-cigarettes are harmful and potentially deadly.
You may also consider scheduling an appointment with your child’s health care provider so they can hear from a medical professional about the serious health risks of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. It’s also a good idea to speak with your child’s teacher and school administrator to encourage tobacco-free school grounds, policies and a tobacco prevention curriculum.
As always, if you are in need of a pediatrician for your child or a primary care physician for yourself or anyone else, please call 317-880-7666 or visit www.eskenazihealth.edu/doctors.
Dr. Nydia Nunez-Estrada
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington