Are electronic cigarettes dangerous? 14 young people hospitalized for vaping in the US

The vapers appeared in the market as alternative for smokers, as a help mechanism to quit and even as a way of smoking less harmful to health, but the truth is that with the passage of time, data and cases that lay down the latter theory are discovered, as evidenced by what happened in the United States where in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois They have registered 14 hospital admissions for young people with breathing problems related to vaping.

Last Friday, as CNN has published, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced 11 cases of severe lung disease that add up to eight last July. For their part, in Illinois, three people have also been admitted for respiratory problems as reported by the Department of Public Health of that state. In this case, the entity has announced that the names and types of vaping products are being investigated, as well as where they were obtained.

All were hospitalized for shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain. Some even needed help to breathe. "

The young people, who had not had any similar problem and apparently had been healthy until then, had to be transferred to the intensive care unit. Thomas Haupt, epidemiologist of respiratory diseases of the Department of Health Services of Wisconsin, reported to the American media that at first they thought that the complications presented by the patients were caused for some type of infection, but that “each test has resulted negative", In addition to the only thing that is known is that there is a relationship with electronic cigarettes, but they do not know" what they vaped, or where they obtained their vaping liquids. "

In this sense, Haupt has highlighted that most of the cases registered in Wisconsin have occurred to people from the southeastern part of the state, while those in Illinois are from the northeast, bordering area between the two, so they suspect there might be a link regarding some product that they could have obtained from the same source.

For its part, Chuck Warzecha, deputy administrator of the health department of Wisconsin, has assured that in general the admitted patients are improving. As for the symptoms, he explained that "all were hospitalized for shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain. Some even needed help to breathe, "in addition to recognizing that they are not clear what effects they may cause in the long term. Illinois patients, as confirmed by the doctor Ngozi Ezike, director of the Department of Public Health of that state, has confirmed the same symptoms in the three patients there, in addition to observing that these occurred in people "without known or previously diagnosed lung problems."

Sectors against vapers

The American Lung Association notes that various research has shown that the key ingredients of vaporizers can damage cells or contain "dangerous chemicals" that could "cause lung diseases, as well as cardiovascular diseases," so the organization shows "very worried about the evolving evidence on the impact of electronic cigarettes on the lungs. "

Scientists who have studied this activity say they are not sure if the substances that vaper incorporate can contribute to appearance of lung diseases, but what they do confirm is that there is "conclusive evidence that in addition to nicotine, most electronic cigarette products contain and emit numerous potentially toxic substances."

The facts indicate that THC cartridges purchased on the street are the probable cause of these hospitalizations "

The American Vaping Association, through its president, Gregory Conley, he showed his outrage as he says "it's absolutely shameful that health departments blame vaping in general ”and has launched the possibility that“ the Department is retaining information ”. This idea of ​​Conley comes from suspicions that young people could have bought THC oil (key psychoactive ingredient of marijuana), by a comment made by the brother of one of those affected.

About this, Thomas Haupt said they have not identified no common cause so "we have not yet indicated THC as a problem", in addition to confirming that they are still investigating the issue, in which they have currently found several complications since as indicated "we are dealing with minors, so they are not always the most honest when it comes to these things. "