Electronic cigarettes are referred to by various names and brands, with one of the most popular being JUULs. JUULing is also known as vaping and is described to as such because small puffs of vapor or clouds are created when using these devices.
What Is A JUUL?
JUULs are powered by batteries which heat a frequently flavored liquid, also known as “e-juice,” “e-liquid” or “vape juice,” that are laced with nicotine. Nicotine can be described as the drug that causes addiction found in cigarettes. Nicotine cigarettes are smoked just as regular cigarettes. They are available in a variety of dimensions and shapes. They include USB sticks, pens, flash drives, and other everyday items.
Although e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, they are classified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes them as tobacco products.
Vitamin E And E-Cigarettes
As per US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials officials, vitamin E acetate, which is an ingredient that is often used to make THC or other products that use nicotine, could be the cause of an epidemic of nationwide smoking-related lung injuries attributed to e-cigarettes, which has been connected to numerous deaths.
The CDC states that vitamin E acetate does not usually cause harm when taken as a vitamin supplement, or placed on skin. However, research has suggested that if the vitamin E acetate is inhaled it could affect the normal functioning of the lung.
Vitamin E Acetate is sticky when it enters the lungs and stays around. The CDC reports identifying vitamin E Acetate in the samples collected from patients suffering from vaping-related illnesses in 10 states. The CDC stated that it continues to look for a diverse spectrum of chemicals.
While the investigation is ongoing until the analysis is complete, until the investigation is completed, CDC recommends that people avoid smoking any products that contain THC, regardless of where they buy these products. The research has revealed that most of these products used by patients were purchased on the internet or from family or friends, rather than from vape shops or licensed THC dispensaries.
How Much Nicotine Is In A JUUL Pod?
The e-liquid in every JUUL pod and the majority of electronic cigarettes contains nicotine, however the nicotine levels are sometimes different. JUULs offer a much higher amount of nicotine per cigarette than other forms of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. This is intended to increase the amount of nicotine delivered. The labels of some products don’t mention the actual nicotine amount.
In the course of the investigation by the CDC the nicotine metabolites were identified in 16 of the 26 specimens of patients.
A JUUL refill pod has the same nicotine as 20 regular cigarettes.
As per the American Cancer Society JUUL products and JUUL-like ones are much more addicting than the other varieties of electronic cigarettes.
What Are The Health Risks Of JUULing?
At first, electronic cigarettes like JUUL were advertised as a tool to assist people quit the habit of smoking cigarettes. With the growing evidence that there are long-lasting adverse health effects from e-cigarettes and similar products, such as irreparable lung damage and lung diseases.
Nicotine Addiction
You may be shocked to learn that nicotine is as dependent as heroin. It is hazardous for brains of adolescents which are just beginning to develop.
Nicotine affects the brain’s chemistry. It could affect brain areas responsible for focusing, learning, making choices and managing impulses. Nicotine can also make teenagers more prone to addictions, and can lead to the use of traditional cigarettes, too.
Since nicotine is highly addictive, it can be difficult for users to quit after they’ve started taking it. Some of the symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine are:
- Anxious cravings
- Anxiety and anger
- Distraction and trouble concentrating
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Toxic Substances
E-cigarettes may not contain as many chemicals like traditional tobacco products, however, that doesn’t mean that they’re not safe. They are still contaminated with ultrafine particles which cause lung diseases, as well as toxic metals and chemicals like formaldehyde and even lead. More than 2,000 instances of lung diseases that are severe after smoking e-cigarettes, as well as 39 deaths resulting from vaping have been reported.
“There is concern about the long-term effect of other compounds found in e-cigarettes, especially in regards to cancer since a number of these compounds are known potential carcinogens,” said Faisal Khan, MD, Medical Director of Interventional Pulmonology and Endoscopy in Franciscan Health Indianapolis. “More and more data is coming out highlighting potential harms of these products.”
Heart Risks
Electronic cigarettes may be viewed as less harmful than traditional cigarettes. Still, two recent studies show that electronic cigarettes are equally dangerous and, in some cases, even more hazardous for your heart..
One study showed that vaping may increase heart risk factors for heart disease at levels comparable to traditional cigarettes:
- Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Glucose levels
The second study looked at blood flow to the heart among 19 smokers aged between 24 and 32 years old, right after and before using either electronic cigarettes or traditional cigarettes.
The study found that in smokers who smoke traditional cigarettes blood flow increased slightly after inhalation of conventional cigarettes and then decreased following stress. However, for smokers using e-cigarettes, the blood flow decreased following inhalation at rest and when tension is applied to the handgrip.
A new study, presented in September 2021 by Gustaf Lyytinen, a physician of Helsingborg Hospital and researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and his colleagues, found that nicotine-rich e-cigarettes increase the risk of blood clots. They cause damage to blood vessels that are small and may also increase blood pressure and heart rate. The study’s authors observed that this effect on blood clots was vital because we are aware that over time, this can cause clogging or narrower blood vessels, increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Is JUULing Safer Than Smoking?
“There are more studies coming out that show it vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking,” said Beth Segal, MSN, RN the Operations Manager at the Franciscan Healthy Living Center in Lafayette.
A study recently published by the American Thoracic Society indicates that one session of vaping can provide more significant amounts of nicotine than a single smoking a cigarette.
“Vaping particularly with nicotine, exposes your lungs to higher levels of nicotine. It is more difficult getting into your bloodstream when compared to smoking traditional cigarettes. There is a higher amount of mucus that the body is having trouble in removing,” Segal said.
The researchers behind the study found that electronic cigarettes that contain nicotine can hinder mucus clearing. Not only is your lungs full of harmful chemicals as you smoke, but it makes it difficult to remove those harmful chemicals from your lungs after they’re in your lungs.
According to the research, the nicotine, whether in electronic cigarettes or traditional cigarettes, could cause heart attacks and stroke. This is the reason why electronic cigarettes shouldn’t be considered to be safer as cigarettes.
The research also showed that e-cigarettes with nicotine can have the same effects on the body to smoking traditional cigarettes.
Is Secondhand Smoke From Vaping Harmful?
When someone vapes it, they breathe in and exhale the vapor generated by the electronic cigarette. It creates an aroma of sweet and delicious clouds. The clouds are vapor which can smell more appealing than traditional cigarettes and will not remain within the atmosphere or on clothes however, it can be harmful.
In the words of CDC the CDC, the substances included in vaping aerosols are:
- Ultrafine particles can be breathed deep into the lungs.
- It is flavoring reminiscent of diacetyl which is one of the chemicals that can cause an irreparable lung disease known as obliterative bronchiolitis.
- Volatile organic compounds are gases released into the atmosphere that could cause adverse health consequences.
- Cancer-causing chemicals.
- Metals heavy, such as lead, nickel and tin.
The study published in Journal Chest on January 19, 2019 showed that teens with asthma exposed to aerosols from secondhand sources and vapor, but not vaping themselves, are more likely to suffer from asthma attacks. Additionally, specific reports suggest that those around them can experience excessive coughing and lung irritation due to exposure to secondhand smoking.
How To Quit JUULing
If you’re looking to stop JUULing, it’s unnecessary to do it alone! Segal recommends seeing your physician to help you stop smoking. There are many resources available. Many have found support groups and hotlines to help quit smoking electronic cigarettes. Sometimes just knowing you are not alone and that someone else understands your struggles can help you keep smoking cigarettes off your body for the rest of your life.
HealthDay News Contributed To This Article.
