The Dangers of Health E-Cigarettes for Lung Damage: Study

According to a report by the British Daily Mail, although it is often promoted as a "safer" alternative to traditional smoking, recent studies have found that it may cause permanent lung damage.

For example, a recent study published in February found that while vaping e-cigarettes is "much safer" than smoking traditional cigarettes, it is still associated with eight different lung diseases.

However, not only nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are widely popular. Recently, health companies have adopted these devices and filled them with substances labeled as "enhancing health" or "boosting alertness", from vitamin B12 to melatonin. According to a 2022 study from Stanford University, approximately one-fifth of teenagers use zero-nicotine e-cigarettes.

One of the most popular e-cigarettes is the caffeine-infused e-cigarette, such as the Eagle Energy which sells for $25-30. It claims to provide a "natural energy boost without any unexpected side effects.

Many brands, such as Inhale Health, also claim that their products are calorie-free and sugar-free, ensuring that there will be "no sugar crash".

Products are presented in vibrant colors and promoted for their various functional benefits. Health-focused e-cigarette brands like Breathe and VitaBar are gaining popularity on TikTok and other social media platforms.

Some supported by social media influencers, such as Canadian model and opinion leader Adrianne Ho, say that her caffeine e-cigarette "allows me to have coffee while on the go.

It can keep you energized without actually drinking coffee; it is a coffee alternative.

However, experts have issued a serious warning to the Daily Mail. Firstly, scientists are questioning whether inhaling caffeine will enter the bloodstream.

At the same time, using e-cigarettes involves serious risks, including permanent damage such as bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as popcorn lung, and EVALI, a painful lung injury that may result in lasting scarring.

Furthermore, experts warn that the marketing strategy of these devices - primarily in rainbow colors and promoting "health" - may attract teenagers and children.

Dr. Timothy Allen, Pathology Director at Corewell Health in Eastern Michigan, told the Daily Mail, "No e-cigarette is safe. E-cigarettes may contain carriers or additives that can directly cause harm. The concept of a 'healthy e-cigarette' is just a gimmick. It is a ploy attempting to imply that vaping e-cigarettes is beneficial, despite no research showing such effects exist.

Caffeine, essential oils, and vitamin B12 have become popular additives in e-cigarettes. However, Dr. Allen points out that inhaling caffeine is likely to completely negate any effects due to the way caffeine is metabolized in the body.

He said, "There is no evidence to suggest that caffeine or melatonin or any of these things actually enter the bloodstream or body, other than the lungs themselves." In the case of caffeine, "I don't think there would be any stimulant effect.

In 2021, the FDA issued warning letters to five health e-cigarette manufacturers for making "unsubstantiated" claims, including using their products to treat anemia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, dementia, and cancer.

These claims have not been verified, the product may be ineffective, a waste of money, unsafe, and could potentially prevent or delay you from seeking proper diagnosis and treatment from healthcare professionals.

Furthermore, the lack of efficacy does not mean that they are not subject to negative impacts. "The risk of lung injury still exists," Dr. Allen said.

Dr. Alan Weiner, a clinical psychologist licensed in Illinois who specializes in addiction, told the Daily Mail, "The only chemical substance that should be absorbed is oxygen. That is what the lungs are designed to absorb. Once you start putting other things in there, you never know what will happen.

Dr. Weiner pointed out the importance of Vitamin E, which can be found in dark green leafy vegetables, whole grains, oils, and fruits.

However, a form known as vitamin E acetate has been found to exist in both nicotine and non-nicotine e-cigarettes, and is associated with lung injury related to e-cigarette or vape product use (EVALI), which may be permanent.

Dr. Weiner stated that consuming Vitamin E is perfectly safe, but inhaling it is not recommended.

Currently, there is no test available to definitively determine if someone has EVALI, so diagnosis is based on symptoms. These symptoms include shortness of breath, fever, chills, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, increased heart rate, and chest pain, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).

EVALI has sparked several terrifying health panics. In Ohio, a 34-year-old woman who regularly uses around eight electronic pods per week, equivalent to 50 traditional cigarettes per day, found herself in the ICU within 24 hours of seeking emergency treatment for breathing difficulties.

In another alarming case, 20-year-old British woman Abby Flynn has been diagnosed with a rare lung disease known as "popcorn lung." Doctors warn that this may lead to her dependence on an oxygen machine before she turns 30.

In addition, the FDA issued a warning in 2021 stating that the ingredients in an e-cigarette called Breathe B12 "may trigger vocal cord spasms or bronchial spasms, may be toxic to tissues in the upper respiratory tract or lower respiratory tract, or may be absorbed and produce adverse systemic effects or organ toxicity.

Dr. Weiner also stated that some caffeine-containing e-cigarettes still contain ingredients such as vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol. When e-cigarettes are opened and heated, these chemicals can turn into substances like formaldehyde, which has been associated with several cancers and lung damage similar to popcorn lung.

Propylene glycol can break down into thousands of chemical substances, including formaldehyde and vitamin E acetate," Dr. Weiner said. "Essentially, this turns into an oil coating in your lungs, which is the cause of the problems.

You are actually putting chemical components into your lungs, as well as chemicals that are really entering your lungs, which appear to be very different from what is written on the packaging. Because these things have not been approved by the FDA, they are unregulated. You have no idea what is inside them. You are exposing yourself to the unknown.

When it comes to vitamin e-cigarettes, while vitamin B12 supplements have been proven to improve red blood cell function, research suggests that inhaling them may do more harm than good.

However, a study published in the 2019 American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that among all the e-cigarettes tested, the highest levels of oxidative stress were produced by the presence of vitamin B12.

When there is an imbalance between free radicals (unstable molecules that can damage cells) and antioxidants, oxidative stress occurs, leading to health problems such as inflammation and other chronic diseases.

Researchers have also found that these e-cigarettes can cause inflammation in the outer lung cells and macrophages, which are white blood cells that destroy dead cells.

Currently, there is no research to suggest that the body can absorb vitamins by inhaling them rather than obtaining them from food or oral supplements. Dr. Allen said, "The idea of inhaling vitamins is unnecessary as long as one has a balanced diet.

For example, a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2023 found that approximately 2.1 million children are currently using e-cigarettes. About half of them are at risk of addiction.

A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that in all WHO regions, the rate of e-cigarette use among adolescents aged 13-15 is higher than that of adults, thanks to aggressive marketing tactics. The organization is calling for a global ban on all flavored e-cigarettes.

Dr. Allen warned that the elaborate packaging and health claims of "healthy" e-cigarettes may encourage more young people, especially those who are already inclined to use e-cigarettes, to try them and take the risk of developing long-term lung damage. He called it "irresponsible" and "malicious marketing.