Local public health educator discusses dangers of vaping – Standard-Democrat

AP Photo/Steven Senne In this April 10, 2018, file photo, a high school principal displays vaping devices that were confiscated from students in such places as restrooms or hallways at the school in Massachusetts. Recent research has shown that all methods of vaping introduce toxins into the lungs.

By Gina Williams

Standard Democrat

SIKESTON While some people try to avoid inhaling potentially toxic aerosols,many teenagers and young adults today are intentionally bathing their lungs in dangerous chemicals.

Brenda Freed, health educator with the Scott County Health Department in Sikeston, said when vapes and e-cigarettes first became popular, many believed they were harmless.

When the e-cigarettes first came out, the advertisements led you to believe that it was just water vapor, that it was a harmless way to smoke, Freed recalled.

According to Freed, recent research has shown that all methods of vaping introduce toxins into the lungs.

Vaping, however, has not been around for as long as cigarettes have, so we dont know the full effect of vaping compared to cigarettes, but we do know that any chemical that is inhaled and goes into the lungs does damage to the lungs, Freed said.

Freed said if the lungs are damaged, it can lead to a variety of lung difficulties, including lung disease and even cancer.

According to Freed, one of the specific lung diseases is emphysema, which is a type of lung disease that causes breathing difficulty and is typically caused by vaping or smoking.

Freed said while there is no cure for emphysema, the condition can be managed with drugs and lifestyle changes.

Other vaping statistics that many people are unaware of include the fact that one vaping Juul pod pack is equivalent to 20 cigarettes, as well as the fact that nicotine is found in 99% of all e-cigarette products available in the US.

Fifty-one percent of teenagers think that it is only flavored water, and advertisements started out as gearing toward kids, Freed said. Another alarming statistic is that 41% of United States teens have tried vaping and out of those 41% of teens, 31% of them do other drugs such as marijuana. Its a gateway drug.

According to Freed, the big myth was that vaping was innocent but now they know that it is dangerous, yet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate vaping devices.

So that tells us that we dont always know what is contained in them, Freed added. So its not being carefully studied, which is a problem.

Freed also debunked the idea that vaping is a safe way to quit smoking, but Freed said both are, in fact, harmful.

According to Freed, there are numerous strategies to quit smoking and vaping.

Whether youre smoking or vaping, you need to make a plan, Freed said.

Freed said there is a 1-800 QUIT NOW quit smoking program and there are also online programs.

For teens who would like to quit smoking or vaping, visit https://mo.mylifemyquit.org/ or text Start My Quit to 36072

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Local public health educator discusses dangers of vaping - Standard-Democrat