‘Don’t put anything into your lungs:’ Risks of smoking, vaping e-cigarettes explained
Cigarette smokers have turned to electronic nicotine cigarettes to stop smoking.
Ohio’s health experts like Dr. Peter Shields say there are lots of benefits to quitting smoking at any age.
“Quitting smoking at any age, even after you’re diagnosed with lung cancer or heart disease or stroke, has a benefit,” he said. “Vaping with electronic cigarettes is causing a huge epidemic of nicotine addiction and use among youth.”
Is vaping safer than smoking cigarettes?
But vaping e-cigarettes still comes with health risks, according to Dr. Shields, an emeritus professor of medical oncology and cancer prevention at The Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“Anyone who claims that vaping is safe is really doing a disservice,” said Dr. Shields. “Putting anything into your lungs that’s not supposed to be there is just not a good idea.”
According to Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, health campaigns raised awareness of the risks of smoking cigarettes and links to cancer.
He said most Ohioans are probably aware of some of the risks that are associated with smoking, but may not be as aware of the risks of smoking other substances or vaping.
Vaping is not completely harmless
“We’re introducing boring substances into our very sensitive pulmonary tissues. Substances that don’t belong in those tissues. And we need to be considering the potential adverse effects of bringing those things into our lungs,” said Dr. Vanderhoff.
During the virtual Ohio Department of Health meeting last week, doctors said there’s still not a lot of data about the long-term health and cancer risks associated with vaping.
Dr. Shields referenced ongoing research studies by the Ohio State University and the Journal of Medicine.
“Still, it’s not a good idea,” said Dr. Shields. “The Journal of Medicine [said] that vaping may be a better cessation tool for smokers compared to nicotine replacement therapy, [but] still not the recommended process. We really don’t know the long term health effects. You know, we could wait 40 years to see who’s gonna have lung disease or cancer or whatever, we can address it now and do our best to keep people away.”
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, e-cigarettes don’t burn tobacco. They create a vapor that doesn’t contain some of the harmful substances like tar that comes from a regular cigarette.
“It’s not good to be initially used by youth or young adults, which is usually where they started get addicted,” said Dr. Shields.
Still, there is research to suggest that nicotine in e-cigarettes is still as addictive as regular cigarettes, according to the Addiction Center.
“My strong recommendation: don’t put anything into your lungs,” Dr. Shields. “It may be really obvious for lung cancer patients, but there are other options for those people who want to make those choices. Now, you may legally make those choices, like there’s edibles as an option. I’m not saying that safe, but at least it’s not going into your [lungs].”
Resources to help stop smoking
Dr. Vanderhoff said the Department of Health encourages anyone who wants to quit smoking to call the tobacco Quitline at 1-800-662-4357.
“It’s important to know that when you call back Quitline, you’re not going to get an automated message directing you resources, but rather, you’ll be talking to a real human being who is an expert on this topic and can provide you with very active support,” said Dr. Vanderhoff.
He also shared a resource for young people who want to quit smoking or vaping called My Life Might Quit, which is confidential.
