In the past few months, people in Wisconsin, Illinois, and other states in the US have come down with what is caused a “mysterious” illness. Within hours of vaping, young people (many who are teens) have ended up in the hospital with what doctors describe as an acute respiratory illness that causes them to have trouble breathing on their own.
A Vaping Death In Illinois
One of the people recently hospitalized after vaping in Illinois has now died from the illness. Last month, there were hospitalizations but no deaths.
According to the Illinois Department of Health, the number of cases of people who have used e-cigarettes or vaped and are subsequently hospitalized has doubled in the past month.
This week, a man in Utah was put into a medically-induced coma after acquiring a vaping-related disease.
What’s Causing the Illnesses?
Most of the young people in Illinois who got sick were using nicotine vapes, but a few reports of other sick people with similar illnesses were vaping either CBD or marijuana. In some cases, young people purchased their e-cigarette materials on the street. However, examples of older vapers are also mentioned in the news and purchased their vaping materials legally.
No specific product has been identified as causing the illnesses; however, many of the vapers who got ill tested positive for THC.
As far back as 2015, physicians have been diagnosing lipoid pneumonia and other severe respiratory illness in people who vape. There have been over a hundred cases in the past few months in the United States.
The Bottom Line for People Who Vape
Vaping is not turning out to be the harmless, less-addictive alternative to cigarettes as they were marketed in the past. Little is known about toxic side effects, but health studies have shown that vaping products have many chemicals. These chemicals seem to be making people sick.
The primary chemical in vaping products is nicotine, which has been said to be more addictive to heroin. It’s unknown how vaping marijuana through an e-cigarette can affect drug users.
If you’re addicted to vaping, help is available to quit permanently. Contact your local health department for resources to quit nicotine. You’re not alone in your journey, and you deserve to live a healthier and happier life, nicotine-free.