The Truth Behind Recent Lung Illness Outbreak: Is vaping to blame?
ALEX ZEIG61 comments
You’ve probably heard the news about what’s being called a “crisis” around vaping and the potentially harmful effects of vaping. It’s escalated to a point where even the president is considering taking action around restricting access to vape juices. If you vape, then you may have felt a little anxiety over what might be one of your favorite little hobbies. That’s understandable, but it’s important to make sure you have all the facts so you can make a smart choice and calculate risk as accurately as you can.
With that in mind, let’s go over a few things you should know going forward as a vaper, because the problem may be more avoidable than the media is implying at this point. Here are a few points you should understand as a vaper.
Never buy black market
One of the biggest advantages to buying directly from a retailer is that you get much more insight into how the product was made. A bootleg vape juice that came from an unlicensed extractor could be filled with all kinds of harmful chemicals. That’s where many of those afflicted with this lung disease have gotten their vape juice, which is part of why it’s so difficult to figure out what is causing this illness: we don’t know exactly what these people have consumed.
Everything you find here at VaporDNA is going to be directly from reputable brands you can trust for quality and safety. You can’t say that for certain about anything that’s homemade. Protect yourself and shop at only legitimate storefronts.
Because of the legal gray area that cannabis resides in the United States, you’re much more likely to find THC vape juices on the black market than you are nicotine products. This means that black market buyers have no insight to the quality of the extraction or the starting material that was extracted. With no regulations to ensure this quality, it’s much easier for moldy cannabis or the use of dangerous pesticides that end up in the final product. This can leave behind harmful chemicals that lead to the kind of illness we’re seeing reported now.
And, again, because of this legal gray area, people are less likely to tell their doctors that they are using a chemical that’s illegal in their state. This misinforms medical professionals and it makes vaporizing the easy scapegoat for what is likely due to a much more specific issue with the extraction of the e-juice.
Only vaporize safe compounds
While vaporizing itself is safe, it all comes down to what chemicals are being vaporized in this context. The nicotine and CBD vapes you find here are going to be safe for vaporizing. Problems start to arise when people vape things like THC or vitamin E acetate. These compounds can be extremely volatile when exposed to the high temperatures it requires to properly vaporize an e-juice, which can cause the issues you’re seeing reported in the news lately.
Not all vape juices are made equal. Some manufacturers are going to cut some corners to save on the cost of making these devices. Sometimes that means using a cheaper metal that doesn’t respond well to high heat. Some of these metals can give off small amounts of toxic vapor that can be harmful to the lungs. Sometimes it’s worth it to spend a bit more for higher quality devices and components not just for a better vaping experience, but for your own health.
There is also cause for concern around the cutting agents manufacturers use to make their product vapable in the first place. Most people are aware of the PG/VG balance that every vape juice is going to create. These chemicals, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, are safe to consume. These are not the only cutting agents that manufacturers can use, however, even if that’s how it should be done. Now more than ever, it’s important that these other chemicals get tested for their safety to humans when vaporized, and that any unsafe compounds be regulated appropriately in the future.
Always ask questions
Whether you’re shopping here at VaporDNA or at your local vape shop down the block, never be afraid to get all the information you need. The person behind the counter is there to answer your questions, as does our customer service department. If you’re unsure about a certain cutting agent or what metal a certain device is made with, there’s no harm in just asking the question to either set your mind at ease or purchase a different device.
Don’t vape with a known lung condition
Some of the victims of this lung disease already had a condition that was compounded by their vaping habit. Quite simply, this was a bad idea from the start. If you know your lungs are already in a fragile or weakened state, whether it be from an illness or an injury, you absolutely should not be vaporizing in the first place.
Still better than smoking
While there are a number of problems to iron out in the recent surge in vaporizing across the world, it’s important to remember that as recently as this year, studies have shown that vaporizing is up to 95% less harmful than smoking tobacco. And, in fact, vaporizing your nicotine has become an effective way for people to get away from smoking. So, while the recent findings are worth looking into and responding to, it’s still a bad idea to go back to smoking and all the toxins and tar that comes along with it. Whether you choose to keep vaping or not, stay away from cigarettes.
The blame game is likely going to continue moving in circles for the next few months, but we believe it’s important to consider all the facts and decide what you should really be afraid of. The vape industry is likely to see some changes in the near future, we just hope that those changes come from a perspective that’s considering all the relevant information.
Read More: 10 REAL POWERFUL VAPING STORIES FROM OUR CUSTOMERS
by VAPORDNA
Comments (61)
My story is like all the others. I started smoking at age 13, I am 63 now and I stopped smoking over 6 years ago with the help of vaping. I too feel 100% better now that I stopped the cigarettes. It’s easy to tell that all the people that talk bad about vaping don’t know what they are talking about. It’s also easy to see that the big tobacco companies are behind all the bad news about vaping. In a nutshell, if vaping is going to be banned, then cigarettes should be along side being banned also. Cigarettes kill a lot more people then vaping does.
I smoked for 30 years or more I switched to vaping 8 years ago and I haven’t looked back. I use a flavored fruit juice and I’m honestly terrified that the government is going to rid the market of them. Thereby sending me back to cigarettes or purchasing black market juices. I enjoy vaping and yes I’m addicted to nicotine. I didn’t start vaping to quit nicotine I started because it was a healthier alternative. That said I haven’t had smoker cough in 8 years. I haven’t gotten winded running stairs in 8 years. I can breath better and feel better. It’d be a shame to go backwards when I’ve moved forward.
Smoker for 41 years one of the strongest out there. Quit smoking 4 years ago with the help of vaping. Down to 3mg now and NO LUNG DAMAGE. You will NEVER convince me that it’s worse than cigarettes.
I was a smoker for 35 years, at a pack a day. I had diagnosed COPD but still couldn’t quit with patches, gum or prescription drugs. My wonderful daughter in-law introduced me to vaping. I made the change from cigarettes to vaping effortlessly. I have been vaping since 2010 and get sick at my stomach just smelling cigarette smoke. My COPD has NOT advanced one bit, proven through medical tests taken yearly. My Pulmonary doctor knows my history and that I currently vape. He has told me that nicotine is no worse for you than caffeine, it’s the other stuff in cigarettes that kills. Since beginning vaping, I regained my sense of smell and taste. I know longer have the hacking smoker cough. I feel good when I wake up, something I never felt while smoking cigarettes. Anyone that thinks we vape because of the sweet flavors is clearly an idiot. Sorry President Trump and wife, but you know nothing. I’ve been there and done that. Buy from your juice from a legitimate dealer (like VaporDNA) and you’ll be OK.
So my story may or may not be a little more unique than other people who vape. But I’ve been a recovering heroin addict going on 4 years. And when I was attempting to quit using, I was also working on cleaning up other nasty habits.. the other habits including smoking pot, and believe it or not, “cancer sticks”. Vaping made my transistion away from cigarettes a lot easier. And vaping has now become my only vice. In a sense vaping is part of the reason it’s been so easy for me to stay away from cigarettes, and using any opiates. It’s more like a hobby. And I’ve never felt better. My lungs feel good, my teeth look better, and I feel I have much better cardio than when I was smoking cigarettes. And I credit a majority of that to vaping. So please do me, along with quite a large number of other people a favor; help keep vaping around and help it grow. It’s a shame children feel like vaping is cool or whatever. Because if your not smoking cigarettes, then you shouldn’t start vaping. Neither are recommended. But if you are going to go down one path or the other, stick to vaping. It’s helped change my life and I will always be a vapor. Until I see evidence that vaping actually causes all the health risks portrayed by the media and the big tobacco companies, I will continue to vape. And continue to steer my fellow peers and family away from cigarettes. Because the proof is already in the pudding. Cigarettes do cause cancer and lung diseases. Thanks for taking the time to read my story. Hope many more share. Vaping is a positive thing, not a negative. Toodles.
If it wasn’t for flavored e-juice I’d still be smoking. I haven’t had a cigarette in Two years. If my only option two years ago was a tobacco flavor I would be on my 22nd year of smoking. I’m 36. All tobacco flavored juice tastes like sweaty armpits.
Bottom line: Vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. No one claims that vaping is innocuous. For those of us who are unfortunately addicted to cigarettes/nicotine, this is one of THE best ways for us to quit altogether. Patches, pills, gum, none of it worked for me. Vaping helped me to break a 20+ year cigarette addiction. I’m living proof that vaping can help you kick cigarette addiction, and there are MANY more just like me out there. Back off and let us continue to become healthier humans by vaping instead of smoking. Parents, if there really is an issue, take responsibility for your children. Stop being hysterical and trying to kid-proof the nation. Regulate the market to ensure safety and leave the vaping community alone. The UK is shaking their head at us right now, vaping has been safely regulated for years there. Stop getting info from FB and random YT videos, they are not an appropriate news source. Most news outlets should be ashamed of themselves for continuing to feed into the hype and propaganda. If you are someone who vapes, do your research before you buy products. Make sure they are coming from reputable manufacturers and vendors. Not all juices and devices are created equal. Until the market is regulated, it’s up to you to be smart about the things you put into your body.
I was a pack a day smoker at age 7. By 21 I smoked 2 packs a day. Now at age 51 I am vaping a juice/salt mix I make from naked 100 that is about 35% ml nicotine. The mixture keeps melting my tanks so I’m using disposable tanks. I would like to be able to buy unflavored juice and salt along with separate containers of just menthol flavoring so that I can continue vaping should the government ban pre-flavored vape juice and nicsalts. Please don’t leave me without a substitute for tobacco.
I smoked for 31 years, and on January 24th 2013, I started to vape. I haven’t had a cigarette since, coming up on 7 years. I tried all kinds of ways to quit, nothing worked, except vaping. I’ve never had any issues from vaping. These kids today are using all kinds of things to vape, and that is what’s causing these medical issues with their lungs.
Now you guys know how we feel as Firearm Owners. But atleast ours is a right protected by the 2nd Amendment and used to protect us and our family against a tyrannical government and criminals.
Anyways, I douche flute as well. Almost completely quit vaping and smoking.