Many people nowadays switch to vaping (electronic cigarettes) because they believe that vaping is better than smoking tobacco. However, electronic cigarettes are equally dangerous as traditional ones. Electronic cigarettes can cause various health problems, such as asthma, scarring of lung tissue, organ damage, cancer, the risk of burn injuries, addiction issues, and also EVALI.

What is EVALI?

EVALI, or "e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury," is a condition of serious lung damage caused by vaping or electronic cigarettes. Previously, this condition was known as VAPI (Vaping Associated Pulmonary Illness) and can be fatal.

Because electronic cigarette products were developed in 2003, they are relatively new, and unlike cigarettes, they have yet to be extensively researched. Further research is still being conducted about the components of vape products and their health effects. Although the exact cause of EVALI is still not fully understood, some early studies have found a link between the use of vape liquids containing vitamin E acetate and lung damage.

Every fluid sample collected from the lungs and examined by the CDC contained Vitamin E acetate, a synthetic form of vitamin E used as a thickening agent in vape products with THC. While vitamin E acetate is safe to ingest or apply to the skin as lotion, it can cause lung damage when heated and inhaled as vapor. The use of vitamin E acetate in vape products has been associated with severe lung inflammation and damage in EVALI cases. Furthermore, some manufacturers also use liquids containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in vapes, the main active chemical in marijuana that can make you high.

Symptoms of EVALI

EVALI can affect someone who has used electronic cigarettes, usually up to 90 days before symptoms begin. Once symptoms start, you may experience the following:

• Chest pain
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid heartbeat
• Stomach pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Chills
• Unexplained weight loss

How to prevent EVALI

The only way to prevent EVALI is by not using vape. This also means you should consider quitting smoking and living a healthy lifestyle. However, quitting vaping may not be easy. You can take the following steps gradually towards a healthier life:

• Reduce vape usage gradually
• Write down reasons on paper why you should quit vaping
• Avoid situations that encourage you to return to vaping
• Set a target date for when you should be able to quit vaping
• Exercise regularly and engage in activities that can help reduce the urge to vape, like yoga or meditation, which can help you stay relaxed while dealing with nicotine withdrawal effects

Don't hesitate to consult with a doctor if you're having difficulty quitting vaping. If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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