The average lung issue won’t last for an excessive amount of time. Depending on the nature of the infection, a cough or other lung issues might persist for a couple of weeks with proper care and treatment. Those who find themselves dealing with lung issues tied to vaping nicotine products may have to monitor themselves for symptoms for much longer than those exposed to viruses or bacteria.
Much media attention has recently focused on the surprising outbreak of lung-related illnesses in people using vaping devices such as e-cigarettes. Long believed to be a less-harm alternative to the crude combustion and inhalation of smoke involved in the smoking process, vaping has turned out to have its own risks, especially for those who use a combination of traditional smoking and vaporization.
Although researchers now believe that the majority of the health issues people have experienced due to vaping stem from the use of vitamin E acetate to thin out the liquid vaporized in the devices, simply pinpointing the cause won’t undo the damage that tainted vape cartridges may have done to the lungs of nicotine consumers.
Faulty vaping cartridges have killed dozens and injured thousands
Vaping illness may not be as prevalent as tobacco-related illnesses and injuries, but they have affected a substantial number of people. According to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 52 people died as a direct result of using vaporizers. More than 2,400 other people wound up hospitalized for illnesses or injuries stemming from contaminated or adulterated vaping products.
Most of the time, when people worry about an injury caused by a contaminated product, the concern is pathogenic in nature. People will monitor themselves for symptoms of a condition, such as a salmonella outbreak, and seek medical intervention if necessary. Once the virus or bacteria would have naturally died off, they can stop worrying about becoming sick.
The issue with these vaping illnesses stems not from pathogens but rather to damage to the lungs themselves. That means that those who have suffered serious vaping-related health issues and recovered may have to remain vigilant for the potential to backslide into illness again in the future.
Monitor yourself and others for signs of chronic lung disease
Exactly how the damage caused by vaporizing manifests in each individual will depend on their health prior to use, the frequency with which they use contaminated products and other factors. Anyone who experienced negative health consequences from using a vaping product should monitor themselves indefinitely for signs of chronic lung conditions.
Conditions such as COPD, emphysema, asthma or chronic bronchitis could all stem from vaping-related injuries. Warning signs include increased coughing, wheezing, difficulty catching one’s breath and the development of asthma-like symptoms in someone who did not previously have asthma.
