Category Archives: Vaping

A 30-year-old Tennessee mom who picked up vaping early in the COVID-19 pandemic claims the habit nearly killed her, with a doctor reportedly saying it was frying [her] lungs like hot chicken.

Hannah Roth began to hear a popping sound in her lungs last month, and she developed a fever of 104 degrees. Scans in the emergency room reportedly revealed lungs similar to someone in their 80s or a decadeslong smoker.

The doctor came in and showed me my X-ray and said, Do you vape? And he said, Thats why you have pneumonia,' Roth, of Newport, recalled to Kennedy News.

He told me that if I kept on [vaping] then I was going to die pretty much, she added. He took my vape out of my purse and threw it in the trash can.

The mom of two boys said she had never smoked before but started vaping four years ago amid stressful pandemic lockdowns. Soon, she was vaping every hour of the day as her addiction grew.

Then last month, Roth was at her receptionist job when she started getting chills. She had a fever, and she heard the popping sound when she took a breath.

I thought I may have bronchitis because my chest hurt really bad, she explained. That went on for a few days, and then I went to the doctors, and they said I had the flu and gave me medicine.

She said her mom urged her to go to the hospital, where an X-ray reportedly showed an obstruction in her right lung.

It looks like a tree with branches. Its called tree budding, and its basically the deterioration of your lung, Roth shared. Its not supposed to happen unless youre a really heavy smoker.

Roth said she had no idea that was a potential side effect of vaping, which is the act of using a hand-held device to inhale vapor that contains nicotine. Other side effects include dry mouth and throat, shortness of breath, headaches and nausea.

With her 7- and 10-year-old sons in mind, Roth said she has refused to touch a vape since the doctor threw hers away.

The doctor said if I stop vaping, my lungs will be able to heal as long as I dont vape anymore, Roth said. I still get cravings for the vape, but I chew a lot of gum and that helps. Overall, I feel a lot healthier, and Im saving money now too because Im not buying a vape every week.

Subscribe to our weekly Post Care newsletter!

She counsels others to quit vaping or avoid trying it altogether.

Even if you think you have control over it, sometimes you just dont, she advised.

Read the original post:

Mom was addicted to vaping until habit caused lung damage - New York Post

Michael Buckner / The Advance Titan According to the NIH, 24% of college students are e-cigarette users, and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease symptoms is doubled in comparison to non-users

Created and advertised originally to help those addicted to cigarettes, vapes came out on the scene in 2003 as a healthy alternative to smoking and have gotten increasingly popular since then. This is seen especially in recent years as vape companies are appealing to young adults more and more.

Of course, while vaping may help you quit smoking cigarettes, youre really just trading one addiction for another; not to mention a more intense and harder-to-kick one. In comparison to cigarettes, vapes are tastier, more accessible, better smelling, rechargeable, and can be hit virtually anywhere because of the smoke-less vapor. Vape companies go out of their way to make disposable vapes as colorful and cool-looking as they can. Additionally, Ive even seen some vapes with screens on them that have cute little icons that dance or spin whenever you take a hit so you can get even more of that psychological reward from hitting it.

Dont be fooled. All of this is specifically designed to be addictive, even more so than cigarettes.

According to the National Institute of Health, of 3,754 college students in their 2018 study, 55.2% had used vapes before, 23.2% of which were daily users. With the stress, anxiety and depression that can come with being a college student, its no wonder almost a third of college students vape in search of a coping mechanism. The buzz they get from nicotine provides somewhat of an escape from reality. Moreover, with its popularity in recent years, vaping has become much more socially acceptedwith users and vape stores at almost every corner, non-vapers may be encouraged to try it. You cant even go to a party or bar without seeing somebody hit a vape.

Besides the obvious and scary physical health risks of vaping such as damage to your lungs, immune system, and your (still developing) brain, your vape isnt helping you de-stress as much as you think it is. In fact, its likely doing the opposite. According to the Truth Initiative, an anti-smoking organization, vaping can actually worsen symptoms of anxiety, depression and even ADHD. So, yes, while hitting your vape may relieve stress in the moment, what youre really doing is trading short-term stress relief for long-term anxiety.

As college students, we are especially targeted and fed the lie that vaping can be a viable coping mechanism with our busy schedules, seemingly boundless responsibilities, and the stress and anxiety that comes with being a student.

I know Im starting to sound like your mom or those annoying quitting ads you always skip, but its much more than statistics thats motivating me. I can throw as many numbers and statistics as I want, but I have more than that. I have firsthand experience.

I started vaping my freshman year of college in search of an escape from the anxiety that comes with being a college student. I ignored all of those anti-vaping ads, too, even hitting my vape to them in what I thought was humor and retaliation. Now, I wish more than anything that I wouldve listened. I wish I would have thought twice before buying my first vape at Marleys, and I wish I had known the magnitude this decision would have on me. The normality of vaping is what made me not even think twice. I thought that if everyone else was doing it, surely Id be okay. The idea that vaping is much better than smoking cigarettes convinced me that I was making a responsible decision.

I was so naive for thinking that the thing that helps me deal with my stress couldnt possibly be causing me anxiety. In truth, it was just happening so slowly I couldnt tell. It crept up on me. After a year of consistent and daily vaping, I experienced one of my first panic attacks. Shortly after, I was put on anxiety meds to help manage my worsening social anxiety and ADHD. At the time, I just chalked it up to a tumultuous freshman year.

After almost three years, it got to the point where the only time I didnt feel anxiety was when I was hitting it. I couldnt breathe as deeply, couldnt sing as well, couldnt run or dance or even walk up three flights of stairs without feeling winded or having chest pains. It wasnt just physically killing me, it was also taking away all the life I had.

I never thought I would be strong enough to quit, but one day it got so bad that the anxiety I was feeling on a daily basis from my vape was worse than the anxiety of letting go of this comfort and dealing with the withdrawals. Finally, I put it all in a plastic bag and threw it into the dumpster. It wasnt easy, but I can confidently say that dealing with withdrawals was a small price to pay for getting my life back.

While I am proud of myself for finally quitting, I wish it had never gotten to that point in the first place. I sincerely dont wish the anxiety, enslavement, fatigue and heaviness on even my worst enemies. Thats why I want to write about this.

Although the anti-smoking ads that Truth Initiative and others put out do have a lot of great information and resources, they didnt necessarily motivate me to quit personally. The resources on their website and the text notifications I receive from them have been vital in dealing with withdrawal and temptation post-quitting, but I think a raw testimony can be a helpful tool.

Learn from my mistakes. If youre thinking about starting, dont; if youre thinking about quitting, do it. If youre thinking, that wont happen to me, stop it. Yes it will, and it only gets harder the longer you wait.

Even just starting small by leaving your vape at home when you go to classes or work can help you wean off the drug and prepare you for withdrawal. Things like drinking soda from a straw, chewing gum, or sucking on lollipops can help mimic the oral fixation of vaping, and keeping an object like a lip oil or a highlighter in your pocket can also help mimic the presence of a vape.

Quitting vaping is a mental battle as well, so I recommend keeping a list of reasons why you want to quit to look back on when you feel that urge and temptation. Truth Initiative also has a sleuth of helpful resources on their website such as other peoples testimonies, the benefits of quitting, a free text sign-up that sends advice and motivation straight to your phone and more.

Once youve quit and have found the best way to deal with your withdrawals, all thats left is to find another coping mechanism to replace vaping. This can be anything running, breathwork, listening to music, praying, meditating, exercising, self-care or even just screaming into your pillow. All of these things release dopamine into your brain, the same hormone that is released when you hit your vape. Whats better? These things are naturally occurring, so youre not manipulating your natural dopamine levels, not to mention they dont cost a dime.

Granted, it will get worse before it gets better. The first few days feel similar to the flu, with symptoms like the shakes, fatigue, nausea and anxiety, nothing you havent done before. Besides, those first few days are such a small price to pay for a lifetime of freedom from this harmful drug.

Take it from me, somebody who thought it was impossible to quit. It isnt. I know it can be daunting, but just take it one day at a time. The first few days were the toughest, but after just three days I started to feel better. I felt more energized, less anxious, more focused, and overall happier. So, put down your vape, and pick yourself up. College is hard enough without dealing with addiction.

Sources:

https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/targeted-communities/3-ways-vaping-affects-mental-health#:~:text=Though%20nicotine%20has%20not%20been,ways%20vaping%20affects%20mental%20health.

https://www.thetruth.com/article/vaping-has-real-risks?cid=vap_google_nonbrand_googlegrant_evergreen_none_none_none_1824_none&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2a6wBhCVARIsABPeH1u8Fk_4kEUNzxAsKhcUiQpM5eKeOrDotFC6yFqPWdnxD2SmllC3t9gaAssMEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://newsroom.heart.org/news/depression-anxiety-symptoms-linked-to-vaping-nicotine-and-thc-in-teens-and-young-adults

https://www.thetruth.com/hot-topic/vaping-mental-health#:~:text=Get%20help%20now.-,Vaping%20nicotine%20can%20worsen%20anxiety%20symptoms%20and%20amplify%20feelings%20of,for%20relieving%20stress%20and%20anxiety.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9996725/

Continued here:

Drop your vape and pick up yourself - Advance Titan

Costa Rican authorities announced on Tuesday that they will prohibit products containing synthetic nicotine in the country, targeting that substance used in smoking containers for vaporizers and e-cigarettes. This resolution will prohibit the sale, use, commercialization, advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of vaping liquids containing synthetic nicotine and cannabinoids, indicated the Ministry of Health in a statement.

It will also affect products that have incorporated cannabinoid-type liquids because they represent a health risk, it added. The provision will be in effect while the government prepares a reform of the law that regulates this area and that type of device.

According to data from the portfolio, since 2021 a total of 3,170 people were treated in Costa Rican public health centers with diagnoses related to vaping. Of the total, 40% were registered in 2024.

In November 2023, the first case in Costa Rica of a 16-year-old person with a lung injury associated with the use of e-cigarettes after vaping for three months was confirmed.

The National Anti-Tobacco Network (Renata) reacted positively to the decision in a statement and highlighted that they applaud the government for the new regulation.

Costa Rica could be on the verge of experiencing a next epidemic of vaping patients, they argued. From the commerce side, they consider it an injustice, said Michael Araya, owner of the La Pegona chain of smokers stores.

Im totally frustrated, he said. A lot of people are going to be out of work, continuing in a smoke shop without selling smoking products doesnt make sense, a very hard blow to all the investment, Araya added.

On the street, vaporizer consumers like Vivian Garca consider it less harmful than conventional tobacco, which is not prohibited. Non-smokers like Kasey Oporto are happy not to have to inhale the smoke that vapers release on public roads.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned in a December 2023 report that urgent control measures for e-cigarettes are needed as they do not help to quit smoking and there is alarming evidence that they harm health. E-cigarettes with nicotine are harmful to health and highly addictive, the WHO said in its report.

Original post:

Costa Rica Bans Synthetic Nicotine in Vaping Products : - The Tico Times

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe

Go here to read the rest:

ANOTHER VIEWPOINT: Vaping punishment counterproductive | Opinion | thefacts.com - Brazosport Facts

Key Takeaways

1 in 20 U.S. teens were vaping during 2021, the latest year for which data is available

That's a decline from the 7.2% of teens who vaped in 2019, but still far too high, researchers say

Vaping has long been linked to increased rates of smoking, as well as a number of lifelong health risks

TUESDAY, May 14, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Vaping rates among U.S. kids in grades 9 through 12 fell to 5% in 2021, the latest year for which data is available.

That's down from a peak of 7.2% of teens who vaped in 2019, a new report finds.

However, the 5% vaping rate observed in 2021 is still more than double the 2% rate observed among teens in 2015, the study authors noted.

It's also only slightly less than the 6% of adults who vaped in 2022.

All of this doesn't bode well for teens' long-term health, said study senior author Panagiota Kitsantas.

Almost 100% of e-cigarettes sold in the U.S. contain nicotine, and the use of these products by adolescents may lead to future abuse of and addiction to additional substances, said Kitsantas, chair of population health and social medicineat Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

The new study is based on a look at data from an ongoing database of youth behaviors compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The data on vaping involved over 57,000 people and began in 2015.

The data also showed a pronounced switch in which teens are more prone to vape. In 2015, boys were more prone to the habit than girls were (2.8% vs 1.1%, respectively). However, by 2021 girls were more likely to vape than boys (5.6% vs 4.5%, respectively), the study found.

Between 2015 and 2021, 12th graders consistently had the highest rate of e-cigarette use, compared to lower grades, the study found.

Vaping "increases risks of nicotine addiction, drug-seeking behavior [and] mood disorders," all of which raise a person's odds for illness and death over time, warned study lead author Dr. Charles Hennekens, professor of medicine at Florida Atlantic.

And even though some may view vaping as an alternative to tobacco smoking, research has shown that people who vape "are more likely to switch to cigarette smoking, which, despite remarkable declines in the U.S., remains the leading avoidable cause of premature death in the U.S. and worldwide," Hennekens said in a university news release.

According to Kitsantas, the continued high uptake of vaping by youth suggest the need for targeted interventions such as mass media campaigns and peer interventions to combat the influences of social norms." She also believes that doctors should routinely screen young patients about whether or not they vape.

SOURCE: Florida Atlantic University, news release, May 13, 2024

Vaping has dropped off a bit among U.S. teens, but rates remain high.

Original post:

Vaping Rates Fall Among Teens, But Still Too High - Griffin Daily News