An e-cigarette can be made to look just like the tobacco cigarettes that you might be used to; however, they may vary in the flavors used and features depending on their price ranges. If you are looking to start smoking them with the thought that they are better than the other cigarettes, you should be wary of the health problems with which they come.
Vaping is not the only thing that can cause bronchiolitis obliterans (lung popcorn). Whether you are running a business or are an employee, you need to watch out to ensure that everyone is safe at the work place. If you are using or planning on using e-cigarettes, here are some of the symptoms and how the disease might be caused:
Flavoring Chemicals
The very first cases of popcorn lung were discovered among microwave popcorn processing plant workers who breathed in artificial butter flavorings vapor. Smoking of e-cigarettes is inhaling the same artificial flavoring vapor and can lead to you contracting popcorn lung. When the e-cigarettes are being manufactured, they are made of different flavors since not everyone is fond of the same flavor. This flavoring is done using chemicals such as diacetyl; it is responsible for how e-cigarettes cause popcorn lung.
Some of these e-cigarettes are given candy flavoring and this might make them a big risk for young kids. These fruit and candy flavors are the ones that are likely to cause the disease. These flavors attack the tiny air sacs that are found in the lungs and scar them whenever you are taking in this vapor. However, not all e-cigarettes are flavored, though the majority are.
Symptoms
The first thing that you need to know about popcorn lung is that it is a life threatening illness that is irreversible. If you are an e-cigarette smoker and you have no idea how e-cigarettes cause popcorn lung, you need to at least learn the symptoms so that you are able to detect the illness early in case you get it. However, the symptoms of this illness are similar to those of illnesses such as asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis among others. Here are some of the symptoms that you should watch out for:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Fatigue
- Chronic Cough
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
Popcorn Lung Prevention
Any illness that is life threatening and irreversible should not be taken lightly. The very best option is to avoid smoking at all costs. If you are a nicotine addict and for some reason you do not feel like you can go without it, you should look for other options of taking it. There are several ways such as chewing nicotine gum or use of nicotine patches. Since there is no known cure for popcorn lung, you should try and understand how e-cigarettes cause popcorn lung and then try to find a way that works best for you in terms of prevention.
Whether you are a student or a smoker looking into the effects of smoking, it is always good to figure out if there are some ways of minimizing the damage of smoking. Once you have a conclusive answer regarding how e-cigarettes cause popcorn lung, you will be a step closer to a solution. But as indicated at the beginning of the article, the best way to stay free of this disease is by abstaining from e-cigarettes.