It’s a common misconception that vaping is better and safer than smoking or it is an effective tool to quit smoking cigarettes. These misconceptions has lead vaping and other forms of e-cigarettes to become a trend amongst many individuals lately.
Truth be told, vaping isn’t any better than smoking cigarettes. As a matter of fact, vaping can harm your health too! Before jumping on the bandwagon of vaping or thinking that the act of vaping makes you look ‘cool, here are some essential information you would want to be aware of!
We reached out to Dr. Kow Ken Siong, Consultant Respiratory Physician from Sunway Medical Centre, to shed some light on vaping and the danger of it towards one’s well-being.
1Twenty80: Could you briefly explain what does the EVALI mean?
Dr. Kow Ken Siong: EVALI is the name given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the dangerous, newly identified lung disease linked to vaping. It simply means e-cigarette or vaping use associated lung injury.
1Twenty80: What are the signs and symptoms of EVALI?
Dr. Kow: The signs and symptoms of EVALI includes:
Respiratory Symptoms:
- Shortness of breath.
- Chest pain.
- Fever or chills.
Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, on the other hand includes:
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Abdominal pain.
- Diarrhoea.
- Signs on CT Scan of the lungs include air sacs filled with fluid or debris as well as thickening and inflammation of the lung tissue often referred to as a reverse halo sign.
1Twenty80: How serious is EVALI?
Dr. Kow: It is a potentially deadly condition and should be taken seriously and even with recovery. Some patients may experience permanent damage to their lung tissue.
1Twenty80: Is EVALI a treatable condition? If yes, what are the treatments available?
Dr. Kow: Yes, EVALI is treated by firstly stopping vape and e-cigarette use, corticosteroids, supplemental oxygen, antibiotics and antivirals if needed. However, some patients go on to suffer from permanent damage to their lungs characterised by fibrosis and reduced lung function following successful treatment of EVALI.
It is a potentially deadly condition and should be taken seriously and even with recovery. Some patients may experience permanent damage to their lung tissue.
1Twenty80: Can EVALI be a risk for developing lung cancer?
Dr. Kow: Yes, chronic exposure to chemicals found in e-cigarettes and vaping vapours can increase a user’s risk of lung cancer as these chemicals are also found similarly in conventional cigarettes which has deduced to be associated with increased lung cancer risk.
1Twenty80: Is EVALI a long term health condition?
Dr. Kow: EVALI is an acute illness characterised by inflammation of lung tissue and collection of fluid and debris in the air sacs associated with exposure to certain chemicals found in e-cigarettes and vaping. It can be a long term health condition if a patient develops complications following successful treatment such as lung fibrosis either as a direct consequence of EVALI or if they develop secondary bacterial pneumonia during an acute episode of EVALI which leads to Bronchiectasis.
1Twenty80: Who is at most risk of developing EVALI?
Dr. Kow: People of all age groups that use e-cigarettes or practise vaping are potentially at risk of developing Vaping-Related Lung Injuries (EVALI).
EVALI is an acute illness characterised by inflammation of lung tissue and collection of fluid and debris in the air sacs associated with exposure to certain chemicals found in e-cigarettes and vaping.
1Twenty80: As a healthcare professional, what would your advice be for people who often use e-cigarettes and other vaping products?
Dr. Kow: Stop smoking in any form NOW, either conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes or vaping.
1Twenty80: How is EVALI diagnosed?
Dr. Kow: EVALI is diagnosed based on clinical presentation as mentioned above such as acute respiratory symptoms including shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, chills in the setting of recent or current practice of using e-cigarettes or vaping. A CT thorax is supportive of the diagnosis if there is lung parenchymal inflammation and air sacs filled with fluid or debris (reverse halo sign).
1Twenty80: What other health conditions may present itself due to an excessive use of e-cigarettes and vape?
Dr. Kow: Other health conditions related to e-cigarettes and vaping include potentially worsening of asthma symptoms in asthmatics, long term use may be a risk for developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in older age as well as cardiovascular (heart) disease, mouth and gum disease just to name a few.
