Using e-cigarettes or vaping might increase the risk of developing lung disease by more than 40%, new research studies show. According to a report in the Daily Mail, a new study from Boston University is among the first to establish that vaping alone could heighten the risk for respiratory issues.
While e-cigarettes have been heavily advertised by companies such as Juul as safer alternatives to tobacco cigarettes. The products have surged in popularity, particularly among younger users. More and more studies are showing that e-cigarettes may, in fact, have long-term health effects.
What Researchers Found
Researchers at Boston University found higher rates of emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic bronchitis among people who started using e-cigarettes as young adults and were entering middle age. Perhaps, most importantly, the results held true even among e-cigarette users who were otherwise healthy. The study’s findings were published in JAMA Network Open.
The study was based on a group of 21,618 adults recruited beginning in 2013 and continuing through 2018. More than 5,000 of them (11.6%) were former e-cigarette users and 5.2% were current users when they were recruited for the study. While e-cigarettes have been found to have lower levels of some of the toxic chemicals that make smoking so harmful to the lungs, they are not short on the ingredient that makes cigarettes addictive – nicotine. In fact, e-cigarettes can be more potent than traditional cigarettes, and young people who vape are more likely to smoke.
The study also found that people who continue to use e-cigarettes were 33% more at risk for chronic bronchitis, 69% more at risk for emphysema, and 57% more likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Vapers also had a 31% higher risk for asthma compared to people who did not vape. Most importantly, the study shows that vaping could cause long-term damage. The new evidence suggests that due to vaping, we may see an increase in respiratory disease as youth and young adults age into midlife. Such diseases may include asthma and COPD.
Product Liability Issues
Our product defect lawyers have long maintained that e-cigarettes are harmful to the health of children and adults alike. Study after study has shown the adverse effects these dangerous products can have on our health. If you or a loved one has suffered serious health effects as a result of e-cigarette use or vaping, you may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, permanent injuries, disabilities, and pain and suffering. An experienced product defect lawyer will be able to advise you regarding your legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9007997/Vaping-raises-lung-disease-risks-40-study-finds.html
