The 7 signs of mysterious vaping lung disease that’s caused 5 deaths in the US
WHEN e-cigarettes were invented they seemed like the solution smokers had waited decades for.
But after the deaths of five people and hundreds more falling ill, people are beginning to question how safe the devices actually are.
So far, all of the victims from America were struck down by a mysterious lung condition understood to be linked to vaping.
Health officials in the US are now looking into more than 450 other similar cases - most of them otherwise healthy young people in their teens or early 20s.
They believe THC the psychoactive agent in marijuana is present within the vape liquid, which could be contributing to the illness.
No similar incidents have been reported in the UK, but British health experts have raised concerns over the health risks of vaping.
Health investigators in the US say that most of the patients who ended up in hospital had reported similar symptoms, including:
- shortness of breath
- coughing
- chest pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- fever
- weight loss
A report published in describes how 53 patients from Wisconsin and Illinois had developed serious respiratory symptoms after vaping.
Most of the patients were young males - the median age was 19 - and were otherwise considered healthy prior to getting sick.
All of them had vaped within the three months prior - and 84 per cent reported using marijuana products.
The report suggests that the vaping-related illnesses are a new phenomenon, and not something that went undetected in the past.
Another report, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that five young patients in North Carolina were diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia after vaping.
The rare condition is caused by fats and oils entering the lungs which can lead to pneumonia, or an inflammation of the lungs.
Doctors were unable to determine whether the lipids came from an inhaled substance or from inside the body.
Health warning
As a result, officials are now urging vapers to put the e-cigs down, while an investigation is carried out.
Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles county public health director, told the last week: "Stop vaping now.
"We’re issuing a warning to all residents about the use of these devices as potentially harmful to proper lung function."
Dr Melodi Pirzada, chief paediatric pulmonologist in Mineola, New York, told the outbreak is "becoming an epidemic... something is very wrong.”
“Unlike the US, all e-cigarette products in the UK are tightly regulated for quality and safety by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and they operate the Yellow Card Scheme, encouraging vapers to report any bad experiences.
"Our advice remains that e-cigarettes are a fraction of the risk of smoking, and using one makes it much more likely you’ll quit successfully than relying on willpower alone.
"But it’s important to use UK-regulated e-liquids and never risk vaping home-made or illicit e-liquids or adding substances, any of which could be harmful.”
It comes as an 18-year-old released a photo of herself in a coma after her vaping habit nearly killed her.
Simah Herman was left fighting for her life just two weeks ago after her lungs failed and she could no longer breathe on her own.
And now she is warning others about the dangers of e-cigarettes - in a desperate bid to prevent anyone from suffering the same fate as she did.
The teen shared photos holding signs saying she wants to start a "no vaping campaign".
She said: "The dangers of vaping are real and this can happen to you. Please don’t let it.
"Don’t let vaping win. Take back your life and quit smoking. It’s just not worth it."
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