A Kansan woman over the age of 50 has recently died from a vaping related illness, Kansas health officials report. Although it is not clear which vaping product she used, her vaping habits have been identified as the main cause of the reappearance of her symptoms, due to the fact that her underlying health problems resurfaced after she started vaping.

E-cigarettes, more commonly known as vapes, are battery powered vaporizers that simulate smoking without burning tobacco. Instead, they have cartridges filled with liquid that contain water, nicotine, and other flavor-providing chemicals. The liquid is then heated into vapor, which the person inhales.

Vaping proposes serious health concerns, especially for teenagers. For example, nicotine in e-cigarettes can potentially slow down brain development for young adults, causing difficulty in learning, concentration, memory, attention, and mood. Additionally, the act of inhaling chemical vapors presents a multitude of health problems. The American Lung Association has issued a statement warning the public about the dangers of e-cigarettes.
“E-cigarettes are not safe and can cause irreversible lung damage and lung disease. No one should use e-cigarettes or any other tobacco product. This message is even more urgent today following the increasing reports of vaping-related illnesses and deaths nationwide”-ALA President Harold Wimmer.

Vaping is becoming increasingly popular among teenagers due to its tasty flavors and “taboo” element. The number of 12th graders that vape has risen to 37% in 2019 compared to 28% in 2018. Jonathan, a sophomore from Mission Vista High School stated that vaping is quite popular at his school, even though students are aware of the potential dangers surrounding vaping.

Professionals see this rise in vaping as a shame, since it is reversing the hard-fought battles against nicotine addiction. They claim that companies like JUUL, the most popular e-cigarette manufacturing company, are leading teenagers toward nicotine addiction, rather than pushing them away from it. It is important that teenagers acknowledge the negative effects of vaping, such as slow brain development, potential lung cancer, and nicotine addiction, before choosing to put their health at risk by using e-cigarettes.

<Sungjoon Chang/ Northwood HS 11th>