Does Vaping Causes Cancer ?

 What is Vaping?

E - cigarettes, sometimes called vapes, run on batteries and heat up nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. They turn them into a vapor you can breath in. Many chemicals that causes cancers are in the this vapor, that includes formaldehyde, heavy metals, and particles that can get stuck in the deepest parts of your lungs.

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes , put nicotine into your lungs and bloodstream, and they do it without the smoke and tar of a regular cigarette, but other harmful things can get into your body when you vape. That especially true if you use flavored cigarettes.

Some chemicals in e- cigarettes can irritate the airways in your lungs. This can cause problems. Studies have found that flavorings like cinnamon can cause inflammation of lung cells.

How do e-cigarettes work ?

E- cigarettes heat a liquid called e- liquid or e-juice to turn it into aerosol(vapor). E-cigarettes users inhale this into their lungs.

How vaping can affect your Lungs

Over time as e- cigarettes use continues, experts will gain a better understanding of how vaping affects the lungs. What we do know right now id that several lung diseases are associated with vaping :

Vaping and popcorn lung : 

Popcorn lung is another name for bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) a rare condition that results from damage of the lungs small airways. BO  was originally discovered when popcorn factory workers started getting sick. The culprit was diacetyl , a food additive used to simulate butter flavor in microwave popcorn.

Diacetyl is frequently added to flavored e-liquid to enhance the taste. Inhaling diacetyl causes inflammation and may lead to permanent scarring in the smallest branches of the airways , popcorn lung which makes breathing difficult. Popcorn lung has no lasting treatment. There are, however, treatments that manage BO symptoms, such as : 

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest Pain
• Shortness of breath

Vaping related lipoid Pneumonia :

Unlike the classic pneumonia caused by infection, lipoid pneumonia develops when fatty acids enter the lungs. Vaping related lipoid pneumonia is the result of inhaling oily substances found in e- liquid, which sparks an inflammatory response in the lungs.

Symptoms of lipoid pneumonia include :

• Chronic cough
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing up blood or blood tinged mucus

There is not a good treatment for lipoid pneumonia, other than supportive care, while the lungs heal on their own. The single most important thing is identify what is causing it , in this case vaping , and eliminate it.

Primary spontaneous Pneumothorax After Vaping :

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax or collapsed lung, occurs when there's a hole in the lung through which oxygen escapes. This can be the result of an injury, such as a gunshot or knife wound or when air blisters on the top of the lungs rupture and create tiny tears.

Those who develop these blisters are usually tall. thin people who had a period of rapid growth during adolescence. Because of the accelerated growth, a weak point may blister and develop at the top of the lungs. On their own, theses blisters don't typically produce symptoms. You don't know you have them, unless they rupture. Smoking and now vaping are associated with an increased risk of bursting theses blisters, leading to lung collapse. 

Sign of a collapsed lung include : 

• Sharp chest or shoulder pain
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing

Oxygen treatment and rest may be all that's need for a collapsed lung to heal. But more advance cases require a chest tube to drain leaked oxygen from the body cavity or surgery to repair the hole in the lung.

Can Vaping cause Lung Cancer?

Cancer is definitely a concern, given that vaping introduces a host of  chemicals into the lungs. But vaping products haven't been around long enough for us to learn whether or not they cause cancer.

We do know that smoking tobacco forces tiny particles to be deposited deep in the bronchial tree and can lead to the development of cancer. The same may be true for vaping.

Secondhand vapor Isn't Safe either :

It's a myth that secondhand emissions from e-cigarettes are harmless. Many people think the secondhand vapor is just water, but this couldn't be farther from the truth. The vapor emitted when someone exhales contains a variety of dangerous substances, which may include :

• Nicotine
• Ultrafine particles
• Diacetyl
• Benzene (a chemical found in car exhaust)

Although secondhand vapor may not affect the lungs same way as vaping, it is better to avoid it, if possible.