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Vaping refers to the practice of using electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes that contain cartridges full of nicotine, flavoring, and other chemicals. Also known as vape pens, e-cigarettes consist of an atomizer, battery, and containers known as cartridges or tanks. Instead of smoke, users inhale vapors from the chemicals in cartridges, hence the term “vaping.” While asthma and smoking cigarettes are well-known concerns, is vaping bad for asthma? Let’s get into it.
Also known as bronchial asthma, asthma is a condition in which a person’s airways become inflamed, narrowed, and swelled while producing extra mucus, making it difficult to breathe. Asthma can range from minor to severe. Untreated asthma attacks can even be life-threatening.
When you have an asthma attack, your airways narrow and inflame, making it difficult to breathe. This may be caused by muscle spasms around the airways, inflammation, and swelling of the mucus membranes that line the inside of your airways, or a build-up of mucus.
Common symptoms of asthma include:
Asthma symptoms can also flare up in certain situations for different people:
We all know that smoking cigarettes is bad for your lungs, but what about vaping. In an attempt to curb their nicotine addiction and reduce their risk of lung disease, cigarette smokers turned to vaping. But studies show that this isn’t any safer, both for your lungs or your asthma.
While studies on vaping and asthma are scarce, enough is known to suggest that there is some sort of connection between the two. To better understand this connection, let’s look into how vaping works.
E-cigarettes are usually powered by batteries to heat a solution that contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals in cartridges. These cartridges are heated up to produce a vapor that’s inhaled rather than smoke. E-cigarettes are considered less harmful than cigarettes because they don’t contain all the same harmful chemicals.
However, vaping is a fairly new practice that’s yet to be researched. As vaping grows more popular, more research is suggesting that the practice can irritate the airways and cause difficulties breathing, which can trigger asthma attacks and symptoms.
So yes, vaping is bad for asthma.
Not only is vaping bad for asthma, but vaping can cause asthma. One study conducted by the University of California found that vaping increased the risk of chronic lung disease, including asthma. Specifically, e-cigarettes users had about a 30% higher chance of developing chronic lung disease than non-smokers, while tobacco smokers had a whopping 160% higher chance of developing chronic lung disease.1
Vaping effects on asthma may include increased chest tightness, mucus secretion, reduced lung function, and more.
Molly, on the other hand, refers to the crystalline powder form of MDMA, which is usually sold as a powder or in capsules that are taken orally. Like ecstasy, Molly has been known to contain other drugs aside from MDMA, including methylone, a synthetic stimulant commonly found in a drug called bath salts.
Moreover, vaping can cause asthma for several reasons, including:
Can second-hand vaping cause asthma? While more research needs to be conducted, it’s safe to say that developing asthma from inhaling second-hand smoke is possible.
One 2019 study found that teenagers with asthma who were exposed to second-hand vape smoke had a 33% higher chance of having an asthma attack compared to those who weren’t exposed.4
In addition to an increased risk of asthma and other respiratory diseases, the long-term effects of vaping also include lung disease. Although many consider vaping to be safer than smoking cigarettes, this isn’t the case. There are numerous chemicals in these cartridges, all of which can cause serious harm to the airways and lungs.
Vape cartridges also contain nicotine, which you may recognize as the addictive chemical in tobacco products. As a result, long-term vapers may find it difficult to quit and may even turn to cigarettes for a more intense “nicotine buzz.” Vaping and other semi-additive substances are also often gateway drugs that open the doorway to more dangerous forms of substance abuse.
If this sounds like you, then this is your sign to get help. Not only can a medically monitored detox help cleanse your system of any lingering drugs or alcohol, but our addiction help center also offers a multitude of substance-specific treatment programs that focus on individual substance use disorders and their causes.
Not only is vaping with asthma dangerous, but this habit can quickly escalate to other, more serious forms of substance abuse. If you find yourself struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, don’t wait to ask for help. Call Banyan Treatment Centers today at 888-280-4763 to find out more about our levels of substance abuse treatment and which one of our Banyan rehab locations is right for you.
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