Vaping Lung Disease: Our Greatest Danger
Everyone has activities that brings them joy – baking, long walks, or thrilling pursuits like mountain skiing or dirt biking. Regrettably, some opt for harmful hobbies like smoking or drug use. Vaping, a trendy choice for all ages, appears appealing for the uninitiated. Nevertheless, repetitive vaping poses risks, including vaping-related lung diseases.
What is Vaping?
Vaping is the act of inhaling vapour from an e-cigarette or vape and is often vaporized oils or glycerin. Vaping can be done by purchasing an e-cigarette or other devices like the JUUL. At first, vapes were introduced as a way to quit smoking and advertised as a healthier alternative with a wide range of flavours to choose from. This was a great way to transition from cigarettes for highly addicted smokers and was considered a safer option. However, research has proven the contrary. While vaping may have less chemicals than a tobacco cigarette, it’s still extremely harmful to your heart and lungs.
Furthermore, vaping is just as addictive as smoking. The vaping industry takes pride in the fact that their vapes contain less nicotine than a cigarettes. But if someone wants a nicotine buzz, they’ll smoke more of the vape to reach the desired amount of nicotine. This trend is also very problematic for youth. The variety of tasty flavours draws younger crowds to this device as well, leading to more addiction. People who would’ve never taken up smoking, are now engaging in vaping.
Vaping Side Effects
The evidence on the dangers of vaping is growing. Firstly, nicotine is still an ingredient. It’s a highly addictive substance that can lead to extreme dependence, memory and concentration problems and alters teenage brain development. Alteration of the brain at a young age can lead to reduced impulse control and behavioural problems. Looking into ingredients, vaping substances contain vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol, while these products are in things like cosmetics and sweeteners, the safety of inhaling these products is still unknown. Lastly, vapes may not have any tobacco in them but they have a high number of other chemicals linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Vaping Lung Disease
As previously mentioned, vapes contain glycerine and propylene. What’s important to note is that these products are oil based and our lungs cannot handle oil particles. Therefore, the oil accumulating in the lungs cannot be expelled. When your respiratory system isn’t cleaned properly, your airways become clogged and inflamed. The lungs alveoli become covered in oil-based substances and prevent oxygen exchange. This puts you at risk for multiple lung illnesses such as pneumonia, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) and bronchitis.
Vaping illness starts out with treatable symptoms like a fever or a cough. It can quickly fall downhill from there. Other symptoms include becoming extremely short of breath and possible lung failure. Some may even need help to breathe with a ventilator during recovery.
Vaping Illness and Salt Therapy
A treatment that can help boost recovery is salt therapy. Salt therapy is a natural and non-invasive treatment designed to target the respiratory system. It involves inhaling salt particles invisible to the eye. Salt helps to clear the airways and absorbs irritants and toxins. Your airways will be less irritable and clearer, significantly improving lung function.
Salt therapy is also extremely beneficial because salt has anti inflammatory properties. Thus, reducing swelling. Breathing will become easier and lung capacity will continuously increase. A common problem is that people like to smoke or vape when they’re stressed. Salt therapy can help with that too! Salt contains negative ions, which are known as natural anti-depressants. Negative ions are found in nature settings like a beach or waterfall. They encourage the body to relax, giving you that lightweight feeling you normally feel on vacation. It’s important to note salt therapy can relieve the effects of vaping, but won’t completely heal damaged lungs. The best choice you can make for your lungs is to quit vaping and work towards a healthier lifestyle.
There’s no shame in admitting you need help to get off a bad habit. Find better experiences for yourself and consider purchasing a salt machine. Salt therapy can be done in your home, giving you the privacy and comfort of not having to leave. Let a little change give your life a big impact. Try salt therapy today!