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SALT LAKE CITY — Vaping has increased in popularity over recent years, and doctors are sounding the alarm on the health hazards.
"The nicotine content in e-cigarettes is basically unregulated, so you can be exposed to a lot more nicotine vaping than smoking combustible cigarettes," said Dr. Denitza Blagev, professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Intermountain Health.
One in 20 Americans use e-cigarettes. Utah has been taking steps to address the vaping crisis, including implementing restrictions on flavored vapes.
While electronic cigarettes have been marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, a recent study noted that's not the case. Johns Hopkins researchers looked at health data from 250,000 people over four years. The findings showed that those who used e-cigarettes had a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than those who didn't smoke or use e-cigarettes.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a leading cause of death worldwide and is typically irreversible.
"Once it's there, it's there, and really the main prevention is no tobacco, no e-cigarettes," Blagev said.
While the long-term effects of e-cigarettes are still being studied, vaping has been linked to cardiovascular disease, reproductive harm and neurological issues, such as strokes.
Teenagers are more susceptible to nicotine addiction than adults.
"Having this habit and these behaviors early on can have real consequences in the longer term," Blagev said.
Blagev emphasized the importance of parents having conversations about vaping with their kids.
"As parents, really one of the most important things we can do is have the lines of communication open," Blagev said. "We really want to help our kids be able to make decisions and navigate these challenging situations, and be set up for success and really long-term health."
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