New data published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows vaping – using e-cigarettes – has doubled among teens in the past 2 years. Currently, about 25% of high school seniors, 20% of sophomores, and 9% of eighth-graders vape.
A recent outbreak of severe lung illness including some deaths - has parents more worried than ever about their kids, e-cigarettes, and vaping in general. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cases are primarily linked to vaping products containing THC, and bought off the street or obtained from non-commercial sources. The CDC says ⅔ of the cases are 18 to 34 years old and ¾ of them are male.
A: Vaping is inhaling a vapor or aerosol created by an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or other vaping devices. E-cigarettes have cartridges filled with a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and chemicals. The liquid is heated into a vapor, then inhaled.
Some vaping devices look like cigarettes, but they come in many different designs, including some that look like pens or computer flash drives.
A: E-cigarettes haven’t been available long enough for researchers to know what the long-term effects of using them may be. More research is needed.
Most e-cigarettes have high levels of nicotine. Nicotine is very addictive and can harm the brain development of teenagers. The vapor or aerosol from e-cigarettes can contain substances that are linked to lung disease, heart disease, and cancer – although in much lower amounts than found in cigarette smoke.
A: The CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are looking into hundreds of cases of severe lung illness, including several deaths, linked to vaping. All the patients have a history of using e-cigarettes and most of them used products containing THC , a chemical in marijuana that causes the "high" reported by marijuana users . Some patients have reported using THC and nicotine or e-cigarette products containing nicotine alone. But the CDC has not found any one product that they all used.
The CDC and FDA are investigating the brand and types of e-cigarette products used and analyzing samples to see if they contain nicotine, THC, or other chemicals or ingredients that could be causing the illnesses.
A: Patients have reported symptoms that started slowly, including shortness of breath (difficulty breathing), coughing, or chest pain. Some patients reported vomiting, diarrhea, or other stomach problems, as well as fever or fatigue. Most of the people who’ve gotten sick have been healthy young men. Anyone who has used e-cigarettes and has these signs or symptoms should go to the doctor.
A: According to KidsHealth.org, parents can do a lot.
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