11 Truths About Vaping-Related Lung Disease

11 Truths About Vaping-Related Lung Disease: U.S. health officials are investigating 530 cases of lung disease related to e-cigarettes, including confirmed and suspected cases. These cases are spread across 38 states and one territory, resulting in seven deaths.

Many doctors and health officials are urging people to stop using e-cigarettes during the official investigation. Recently, President Trump stated that the U.S. government plans to ban the sale of any non-tobacco flavored e-cigarette products. Regarding the dangers of e-cigarettes, here is what health officials currently understand:

What are the symptoms of lung diseases caused by e-cigarettes?

Patients exhibit a variety of respiratory symptoms, including cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Many patients also experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.

Additionally, symptoms like fever, fatigue, and weight loss are also common. Patients' symptoms may rapidly worsen within days or develop slowly over weeks. Most patients have an elevated white blood cell count, indicating that the immune system is in a "heightened state of alert."

Why are these symptoms appearing now? Is this a new type of disease?

Health officials believe that most cases have emerged in the past few months. This type of disease may have existed before but was only recently confirmed to be related to e-cigarettes. However, many investigators believe that this disease may be caused by a new ingredient added to e-cigarette products or devices, such as an additive or toxic substance.

How severe are these lung diseases?

Some patients can recover within days or weeks, but many require assistance from ventilators or intubation. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that among 53 reported cases in Wisconsin and Illinois, 94% of patients required hospitalization, and 32% needed intubation and ventilators. Some patients even required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to allow their lungs and heart to rest by pumping blood out of their bodies through a machine.

Seven deaths have been confirmed, with these cases distributed across California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, and Oregon.

What are the triggers for these diseases?

Although the specific cause is unclear, doctors indicate that a certain chemical component in e-cigarettes, when inhaled, may lead to lung inflammation and lung function damage.

Many of these diseases are associated with cannabis products, particularly tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a chemical in cannabis that affects mental activity. Many patients report having used both nicotine and THC-containing products, while some patients indicate they have only used nicotine e-cigarettes.

The New York State Department of Health and the FDA have stated that many THC-containing products contain high levels of vitamin E acetate, an oil that can be used as a thickening agent in e-liquids without affecting taste and smell.

However, health officials have not linked any specific substance or product to these diseases, and currently, no product is associated with all these diseases. The inflammation and functional damage in patients' lungs also vary from person to person. Some doctors speculate that the related diseases may include several causes associated with e-cigarette use.

What is lipoid pneumonia? How is it related to diseases caused by e-cigarettes?

Lipoid pneumonia refers to lung inflammation caused by inhaling fats or oils. A characteristic of this inflammation is the accumulation of fat in the lungs of patients. Some patients in e-cigarette cases also exhibit this condition, including patients in a CDC report from North Carolina. Five patients in that state were diagnosed with acute lipoid pneumonia, all of whom had recently used THC cannabis oil. Three of them had also used nicotine e-cigarettes.

However, not all patients studied exhibited lung fat accumulation. Sean Callahan, an assistant professor at the University of Utah Medical System, stated that lung fat accumulation may also be caused by inflammation resulting from some lung damage, not necessarily indicating that the patient inhaled fats or oils.

How should these diseases be treated? #p#分页标题#e#

The symptoms of these diseases resemble those of infections or pneumonia, so doctors sometimes initially prescribe antibiotics to eliminate infections. However, antibiotics do not alleviate symptoms, and many times doctors find that patients are not actually infected.

For some patients, stopping e-cigarette use and allowing the body to heal from inflammation seems to be effective. Additionally, doctors have noted that the use of steroids is also quite effective. Steroids are typically used to alleviate allergic reactions and other inflammation.

Should I stop using e-cigarettes?

The CDC recommends that people stop using e-cigarettes, while the FDA urges the public to avoid using THC-containing products. Additionally, both agencies advise against purchasing any e-cigarette products from illegal sources and modifying legally purchased e-cigarettes. Some state and local governments and health organizations have also issued warnings urging the public to stop using e-cigarette products.

If I have a serious illness and am currently using THC-containing e-cigarettes for treatment, should I stop?

You can consult a healthcare professional to find an alternative therapy. Although many of the diseases are associated with products purchased through illegal channels, in one death case in Oregon, the patient had purchased cannabis products from two government-approved retailers.

New York State has not yet reported any negative incidents related to legal medical cannabis, but the state health commissioner strongly advises patients using medical cannabis to consult healthcare institutions for alternative treatment options and to avoid using e-cigarettes during the investigation.

If I quit e-cigarettes months ago, can I still get these diseases?

Among the known cases, patients had used e-cigarettes within the past 90 days before symptoms appeared. If you have used e-cigarettes within the past 90 days or are still using them, you need to closely monitor your health and be aware of any potential symptoms.

If I have been diagnosed with pneumonia, should I tell my doctor that I use e-cigarettes?

Yes. If you experience any pneumonia-like symptoms, be sure to inform healthcare institutions of your medical history, including your use of e-cigarettes.

Where can I get more information?

The CDC is expected to update its website every Thursday with new confirmed or suspected cases and any findings from this investigation. Additionally, the agency has issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory regarding these diseases.

On September 12, the FDA also launched a page related to respiratory diseases on its website to provide information to consumers, healthcare institutions, and regulators.