Vaping cases may be indication of serious problem

Industry is relatively new, and research is still needed

As hundreds of cases of serious illnesses are reported, one thing is clear: something is amiss with vaping.

So far, about 450 possible cases in 33 states have been reported, including five deaths, the Associated Press reports.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is looking for a common link between the cases, but so far, the only common denominator appears to be vaping.

According to the Associated Press, “No single vaping device, liquid or ingredient has been tied to all the illnesses.”

The CDC notes, “No evidence of infectious diseases has been identified; therefore lung illnesses are likely associated with a chemical exposure.”

Some patients used e-cigarettes with liquids containing THC, the active component in marijuana, but others didn’t. Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever or weight loss. Some patients reported symptoms that developed over a few days, while for others, it was over a few weeks.

Here’s the challenge. Vaping devices come in all shapes and sizes, but the devices essentially all work the same. A battery-powered heating element heats a liquid that contains nicotine and various other chemicals. When heated, the liquid becomes an aerosol, which users then inhale.

The key question here is figuring out what the common element is that is causing these health problems – is it one chemical or a combination of chemicals?

The e-cigarette industry is a relatively new industry, which really started to take off in 2007. The American Lung Association reports, “Much remains to be determined about the lasting health consequences of e-cigarettes,” but there is “evolving evidence about the health risks of e-cigarettes on the lungs.”

E-cigarettes are a relatively new industry with a wide variety of variables, and research is still needed to determine what’s safe and what’s not.

If you use a vaping device, be careful. These vaping cases under investigation by the CDC are serious, and could be an indication there is a much bigger problem.