Unmasking the Risks of Vaping: A Deeper Look into the Growing Health Concerns
With as many flavours as an ice cream shop and as many vibrant colours as a candy store, vaping devices entice users.
This is a long cry from regular cigarettes, which will soon have warning labels that are quite difficult to ignore on the cigarettes themselves.
However, the growing list of health hazards associated with vaping, which includes lung disease and nicotine addiction, makes it difficult to ignore.
Inhaling an aerosol created by vape mods, vapourizers, e-cigarettes, or vape pens is known as vaping. Vaping items are usually battery-operated and might include flavours, chemicals, liquid nicotine or cannabis, among other ingredients.
The practise is becoming more and more common among Canadian youth. Nearly half (48%) of adults aged 20 to 24 and nearly three out of ten children aged 15 to 19 reported having tried vaping at some point in their lives in 2021, according to Statistics Canada. Of those who vape, 55% claim to do so daily.
Study the dangers.
Because they think vaping is safer and healthier than smoking cigarettes, many people choose to vape instead of smoke. Early research indicates that vaping can still be harmful to users even if the items are relatively new and specialists are still studying the health impacts.
Jessica Tran, a chemist with Primary Care Networks (PCN), was asked to share her thoughts on the top three risks associated with vaping.
Certain substances used in vaping products may have unknown long-term impacts. Certain chemicals, including as propylene glycol and glycerol, are used in vaping goods and may be dangerous. Although these substances are frequently found in food and cosmetics, there is no evidence to support the safety of long-term inhalation of these compounds.
It’s addicted to vape. Nicotine and cannabis-containing vapes are addicting and may be harmful to your health. Since their brains are still developing, youth and young adults—who use vape goods the most—are also more likely to become hooked.
Any inhalation carries the danger of harm or cancer. Smoke inhalation poses numerous harmful health concerns. A number of the metals and chemicals included in vaping devices have been linked to cancer, and vapers may become hospitalised due to Vaping-Associated Lung Illness (VALI), a dangerous medical condition.
Notwithstanding these dangers, data indicates that 33% of Canadians between the ages of 15 and 19 vape to relieve stress, and 58% of those over 25 vape to cut back on, give up, or prevent smoking altogether.
Get assistance
It’s challenging to stop using any addictive chemical. Thankfully, PCNs can assist you in achieving your health objectives. PCN chemists provide services and support, such as assistance in quitting smoking and vaping, to help people stop vaping. In order to assist patients in their quitting efforts, chemists can also refer them to other healthcare providers within the PCN system as needed.
I’ll have a conversation with a patient to learn about their lifestyle, their triggers, and the possible causes of their smoking or vaping. When someone is ready to give up, there are frequently many additional issues to address in addition to the behavioural component, according to Tran.
To make sure we’re addressing any underlying health issues, I might refer a patient who is struggling or using vaping as a stress reliever to a nurse or mental health counsellor.
Prepared to give up? Reach out to your neighbourhood PCN to begin.
If you are facing any of the issues discussed in this article, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will do our best to help you.
