Smoking has had a tremendous effect on the health of the public, but thankfully most people have put down the cigarettes by now. However, many have just swapped to electronic cigarettes.
Cigarettes are horrible for your health, we all know this by now. They significantly raise your risk for heart disease and cancer. E-cigarettes and vaporizers are thought to be significantly better for you than smoking, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for you. They have been quite the trend recently, but according to a new study, they might have the same dangerous results are traditional tobacco cigarettes.
There are some extremely dangerous ingredients in e-cigarette liquid. According to the new study published in Thorax suggests that people who vape need to be extremely wary of the vape juice they choose. Some of them contain high levels of Benzaldehydes. This chemical is used in many processed foods, and can be toxic when inhaled and a strong irritant to the respiratory system. “As e-cigarette popularity increases, respiratory clinicians need to be aware of potential risks that may result from use,” the researchers write in the study. “Although e-cigarettes may be a promising harm reduction tool for smokers, findings indicate that using these products could result in repeated inhalation of benzaldehyde, with long-term users risking regular exposure to the substance.”
The researchers conducted safety testing on 145 different e cigarette liquids of various flavors, including tropical berry, tobacco, alcohol, chocolate and candy, coffee and tea, menthol, and cherry. However, there are over 7,000 different kinds of vape juices out there today. Researchers found that some of the
most dangerous flavors out there are cotton candy, fruit squirts, Cupcake, Alien Blood, and Unicorn Puke. They found that these flavors can cause a horrible condition called popcorn lung. Scientifically known as bronchiolitis Obliterans, it is a condition first discovered back in 2001 by workers in factories that inhaled the artificial butter flavor of microwavable popcorn.
Some of the symptoms of popcorn lung include dry coughing, shortness of breath that worsens with physical activity, wheezing, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Popcorn lung is often misdiagnosed because the symptoms are so similar to other lung disorders like asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and emphysema. X-rays and chest CT scans can detect popcorn lung but is not 100% definitive. The most accurate reading and diagnosis for popcorn lung are with a biopsy.
The researchers found extremely high levels of benzaldehydes in 74% of the samples. That’s 108 out of the 145 e-cigarette juices. Some had a much higher level than others. They found that cherry flavored products have an even higher level of the chemical than actual cigarettes. E-cigarettes are not FDA regulated, and kids can buy them in many different states. These states include Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Many people believe that this is the best way to kick cigarettes and stop smoking, but it only transfers your addiction to something, not any healthier. It is also a gateway to smoking for kids. The rate of smoking (E-cigs included) has increased by 3 times in high school and middle schools in just one year!
E-cigarettes are just another way for tobacco companies to make money. They poison our health to benefit themselves financially. The point of the matter is, e-cigarettes are not a healthy alternative to cigarettes, and they can cause additional damage to your body.