Do People Get Sick From Vaping?
The CDC recently announced that it has identified over 150 people with serious respiratory conditions and vaping . We do not yet know if they caused the vaping disease, but the investigation is ongoing. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s happening?
Over the past two months, the CDC has collected 153 reports of “possible cases” of severe lung disease. The important details are that the disease does not appear to be contagious (that is, not caused by a virus or bacteria), and that all patients reported vaping before they got sick.
Nicotine and THC (cannabis) vapes are under suspicion. So far, no specific product or device has been highlighted.
Since this is all so new and the cause has not been established, it is possible that this is not a new disease at all. Maybe there are several different diseases that have been combined into one, and vaping is so common that its association with this disease is a coincidence. The CDC, FDA and state health departments are trying to figure this out.
What are the symptoms?
People with this condition experienced “gradual onset of symptoms” over several days or weeks, which often included coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Some also experienced vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue.
This is a notice for healthcare professionals that provides more details on what doctors should look for and what past cases have looked like. It notes that some patients’ breathing was bad enough to require mechanical ventilation, but they improved with corticosteroids. So far, no one has died from this condition.
What should I do if I think this is happening to me?
Anytime you have severe breathing difficulties, you should still seek medical attention. So this is your first step.
Also, be sure to inform your provider that you are vaping and / or using cannabis or products containing THC. They are not trying to get you in trouble; they just want to know what’s going on and how best to handle you. The CDC recommends that healthcare providers report to local and state health authorities if they see people with “a serious respiratory illness of unknown etiology and a history of vaping.”
You or your provider can also file a safety report on the vaping products you have used to the FDA . (This applies to any health problem or problem that may be associated with tobacco products.)
But there are many other reasons a person may have respiratory symptoms. So far, this vaping-related disease – if it’s even a specific disease and not just a coincidence – has only been found in a few people. So, simply based on numbers, you are more likely to have a common respiratory condition (such as asthma) than the specific combination of symptoms that the CDC is currently focusing on. In any case, it is best to seek medical attention and talk about your concerns.