GBMC "To Your Health" discussing e-cigarettes

The number of people using e-cigarettes has increased by 1 million users since 2017. It’s a trend that’s hitting young people especially hard. In fact, 30% of high schoolers and 10% of middle schoolers say they vape. Dr. Ari Zaiman, Medical Director of Pulmonary Medicine at GBMC Health Partners, talked about the health risks cigarettes and e-cigarettes pose and why quitting is the best choice for your health.

“Smoking-related diseases don’t just affect your lungs,” he explained. “In addition to increasing your risk of lung cancer and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), smoking increases your risk of a stroke two to four times. It also increases your risk of a heart attack, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, other cancers, and peripheral vascular disease.”

Dr. Zaiman noted that while many people think of e-cigarettes as a safer alternative, there’s a lack of knowledge and scientific study to back up those beliefs. “Research on the health effects of vaping is in its infancy,” he said. “We simply don’t know how it affects your health or how second hand smoke from e cigarettes affects the health of those around you. What we do know is that it has the potential to generate nicotine addiction, especially in young people, whose developing brains are changed by nicotine use.”

He also talked about the use of e-cigarettes to vape synthetic drugs as well as the risk of overdose and what signs parents should look for if they’re concerned their teens are vaping.