In the present, it is to be pretty obvious that using e-cigarettes (also known as vaping) is harmful to your lung. But the research into the exact effects of vaping on the lungs is still in its beginning stages, according to Johns Hopkins lung cancer surgeon Stephen Broderick.
In the past one to three years I’ve witnessed an explosion of vape users according to Broderick. For tobacco, we have over six decades of research to discover which chemicals that are inhaled while smoking affect the lung. With e-cigarettes, however, it is difficult to determine the long-term or short-term effects as of yet and what elements in e-cigarettes are responsible.
While there’s not a definitive answer but experts do have an idea of how smoking can harm the lungs.
What Happens When You Vape
Both vaping and smoking require heating a substance before inhaling the smoke. In smoking traditional cigarettes, you breathe in smoke that comes from burning tobacco. When you vape, devices (typically a vape pen or mod — an improved vape pen, which might appear like flash drives) are used to heat a substance (called vape juice, or vape juice or) until it transforms into a vapor which you breathe in.
Vaping is a method of delivery that is similar to a nebulizer that people suffering from respiratory asthma and other disorders might have heard of Broderick. Broderick. Nebulizers turn liquid medication into the form of a fog that people breathe into. It’s an extremely effective method of delivering medication to the lung.
How Vaping Can Affect Your Lungs
As vaping continues to increase, experts will have an understanding of the effects vaping has on the lung. What we know currently is that a variety of lung diseases can be linked to vaping
Vaping and Popcorn Lung
“Popcorn lung” is another name for bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) it is an uncommon disease that results from the damage to the airways of the lungs’ smaller airways. The condition was first discovered after workers in the popcorn industry began becoming sick. The cause was diacetyl an ingredient in food that is used to replicate the butter taste in popcorn microwaved.
Diacetyl is often added to flavored e-liquids to improve the flavor. Inhaling diacetyl can cause inflammation and could cause permanent scarring on the smallest branch in the airways — called popcorn lung, which can make breathing difficult. The condition is not a permanent treatment. There are however ways to treat BO symptoms, including:
Coughing
Wheezing
Chest pain
Breathing shortness
Vaping-Related Lipoid Pneumonia
In contrast to typical pneumonia that is caused by infection, lipoid pneumonia is a condition that occurs when the fatty acids (the components of fat) are introduced into the lung. The condition is caused by the inhalation of oily substances in e-liquids. This causes an inflammation response within the lung. The signs of lipoid pneumonia are:
Chronic cough
Breathing shortness
Sniffing mucus containing blood or blood-colored mucus
There’s no effective treatment for the condition, aside from supportive care as the lungs regenerate themselves according to Broderick. The primary step you can take is to find out what’s the cause — in this instance, vaping — and then eliminate the cause.
Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax (Collapsed Lung) After Vaping
Primarily spontaneous pneumothorax also known as the collapsed lung is when there’s an opening in the lung that allows oxygen to escape. This could be caused by an injury, like a gunshot or knife wound, or air blisters that form on the upper lobes of the lungs break and form tiny tears.
The people who suffer from these types of blisters are typically slim, tall individuals who experienced a period of rapid growth throughout adolescence, according to Broderick. Due to the rapid expansion, the weak spot can develop and blister on the top of the lung. As a whole, the blisters do not typically cause symptoms. They aren’t obvious that you have them until they burst. Smoking cigarettes, and more recently vaping — is associated with a higher possibility of rupture of these blisters which can lead to the collapse of the lung.
At Johns Hopkins, we’re seeing an increase in lung collapse in young patients, according to Broderick. We ask patients whether they’ve smoked or vaping, and they’ll usually reply, ‘No I don’t use tobacco. However, I do use vape. We now advise patients to not smoke or vape to avoid a second lung collapse or surgical intervention in the future.”
A sign of collapsed lungs can include:
Pain in the shoulder or chest that is sharp
Breathing shortness
Breathing difficulties
The treatment of oxygen and rest could be all it takes for a lung that has collapsed to recover. However, more serious cases will require the use of a chest tube to remove oxygen from the body cavity, or surgery to fix the lung’s hole.
Can Vaping Cause Lung Cancer?
Cancer is certainly a major concern because vaping releases many chemicals into the lung. However, vaping products haven’t been around for long enough to be able to determine what they do to can cause cancer.
We are aware that smoking tobacco causes tiny particles to accumulate into the bronchial trees and may lead to the growth of cancer. Similar could be the case with vaping, claims Broderick.
Secondhand Vapor Isn’t Safe Either
There is a misperception that secondhand smoke from electronic cigarettes is safe. A lot of people believe that secondhand vapor is nothing more than water, however, this could not be further from the fact. The vapor that is released when someone exhales contains a range of hazardous substances. This can include:
Nicotine
Ultrafine particles
Diacetyl
Benzene (a chemical that is found in exhaust from cars)
While secondhand vapor might cause lung damage similarly to smoking cigarettes, it’s better to stay clear of it, whenever possible.
The Chemicals You Inhale When Vaping
Instead of bathing the lungs in a soothing mist similar to a nebulizer the lungs, vaping covers them with harmful chemicals. E-liquids typically contain a mixture of flavorings, aroma ingredients, nicotine as well as THC (the chemical found in marijuana that can cause psychological effects) and are dissolved in the base of an oily liquid. “We think that some of the vaporized elements of the oil are getting deep down into the lungs and causing an inflammatory response,” Broderick says. Broderick.
The ingredient at the heart of the investigation can be identified as vitamin E. It is often utilized as a thickening agent and delivery agent in e-liquids. It’s also safe to consume in the form of a supplement or applied to the body, it’s to be a source of irritation when breathed in. It’s been discovered within the lung of patients suffering from serious, vaping-related harm.
Other substances that are commonly found in e-liquids, or produced during the healing process could cause harm to the lung. They include:
Diacetyl The food ingredient that is used to intensify the flavors of electronic cigarettes is thought to cause harm to tiny passageways in the lung.
Formaldehyde This toxic chemical may cause lung diseases and may contribute to heart diseases.
Acrolein Most commonly, it is used to kill weeds however, this chemical may also harm the lungs.
What to Do If Your Lungs Hurt
If you smoke or take vapes do not dismiss symptoms of chest or lung inflammation as something normal. If you’re experiencing any other symptoms that are related to breathing problems like shortness of breath or chronic cough, it’s crucial to consult a physician.