Page 4 - elevatespring2020

ELEVATE YOUR

UP IN

While electronic cigarettes
have been around for

decades, a recent surge in
their popularity—and some

unexplained, severe lung
illnesses—have caused the
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) and

the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to issue
a warning against the use of

some vaping products.

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES, ALSO known as e-cigarettes, are accompanied by pain or tightness in your chest—you should seek
battery powered, hand-held devices that allow users to mimic emergency care immediately,” says Rebecca Gay, MD, Emergency
smoking. Rather than lighting a tobacco-filled cigarette, a chemical, Center Director at Navicent Health Baldwin.
flavoring and nicotine-filled reservoir inside the e-cigarette is
heated, and e-cigarette users inhale the vapor that is created. This UNDERSTANDING THE LINK
is known as “vaping.”
When someone vapes, microscopic particles enter the tiniest
Though e-cigarettes were once touted as a safer alternative chambers of the lungs, causing irritation, inflammation and
to cigarette smoking, in the fall, doctors and emergency rooms potentially serious lung injury. While the lungs are usually
across the country began reporting a mystery illness the CDC able to repair themselves after minor lung irritation, the
and FDA believe may be related to vaping. Symptoms for the repeated use of e-cigarettes means that the lung injuries
condition may mimic a cold at first—a cough, chest pain and build, leading to the symptoms that send many of the vapers
shortness of breath—but they can get progressively worse, to the hospital with breathing issues, says Christy Peterson,
leading to hospitalization and even death. According to the CDC, MD, pediatrician with Beverly Knight Olson Children’s
more than 2,400 cases of lung injuries and more than 50 deaths Hospital, Navicent Health.
have been reported in the U.S., and the numbers are climbing.
“Lung injuries are life-shortening,” Dr. Peterson says. “Injuries
“If you feel like you can’t catch your breath or have trouble from vaping accumulate over time, and you develop lung failure
breathing while walking short distances—particularly if this is when your injuries reach the point of no return.”

4 navicenthealth.org | SPRING 2020