Blowing Smoke?

Because these e-cigarettes have been used to wean smokers off of nicotine, it appears to be a safe hobby. But, as more and more teens jump on the vape train, we wanted to take a closer look to keep you informed on this dangerous and growing trend.

Vaping involves inhaling vaporized “juice” or “e-liquid” through an e-cigarette, or vapor pen. E-cigarettes were originally introduced in 2007 to help nicotine-addicted smokers nix their addiction by using juice with varying (often decreasing) levels of nicotine.

Now, smoking and non-smoking teens are joining the trend and enjoying the many flavors that are available—from cotton candy to mango. A vape pen uses a vaporizer, powered by a rechargeable battery, to turn the liquid into smokeable vapor.

When the liquid heats up to turn into vapor, its composition changes. And that’s where the questions begin. Because the vaping industry is not regulated by the FDA, there is still much research that needs to be done to determine how much nicotine e-liquids contain, what substances are formed when e-liquids are vaporized and how harmful those substances may be.

What Studies Show

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine and the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York recently tested the effects of vapor, with and without nicotine, on exposed lung tissue and lab animals. This is what they found:

WITH NICOTINE:

› Disrupted lung cell barrier functions, making the cells more permeable and ineffective as barriers to outside substances

› Created a buildup of inflammatory cells in lungs

› Produced high concentrations of free radicals, which can damage cells and the immune system

WITHOUT NICOTINE:

› Also disrupted lung cell barrier functions, making the cells more permeable and ineffective as barriers to outside substances

› Produced an even higher concentration of free radicals than nicotine-containing liquids.

Source: sciencenews.org

Vaping And Teen Health

Even though vaping might be beneficial to smokers who want to stop smoking cigarettes, it may not be so beneficial for developing teens. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data in April 2015 that showed e-cigarette use among middle and high school students tripled from 2013 to 2014. E-cigarettes allow you to inhale nicotine without the tobacco and hundreds of carcinogens contained in regular cigarettes, but researchers and public health officials worry about the possibility of addiction and developmental problems e-cigarettes can cause in teens.

“We want parents to know that nicotine is dangerous for kids at any age, whether it’s an e-cigarette, hookah, cigarette or cigar,” says CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Adolescence is a critical time for brain

A Deceiving Disguise?

development. Nicotine exposure at a young age may cause lasting harm to brain development, promote addiction and lead to sustained tobacco use.”

And it’s not just the nicotine that’s posing a health threat. The flavors used in e-liquids could be harmful to your respiratory system. According to epidemiologist Jessica Barrington-Trimis of the University of Southern California, flavorings “have a history of being known respiratory toxins.”

John Halligan, the senior adviser of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association says, “When we saw flavors were being used in e-cigarettes, we wanted to put the word out right away that it’s a possibility that flavors being inhaled through an e-cigarette could also be harmful.”

Many teens don’t view vaping as a health hazard. According to drugabuse.gov, the 2014 Monitoring the Future annual survey found that only 14.2 percent of high school seniors considered e-cigarettes harmful. Though there is still much research to be done and no proven evidence of long-term side effects, the already-discovered health risks prompt the question of regulation. Back in April 2014, the FDA announced its plans to include e-cigarettes in its regulation of tobacco products, though it has not yet happened. And 31 organizations, including the American Lung Association, are vying for it.

Vaping Stats

466+ 7,764+ $3 Billion 1 in 10 An estimated 10% An estimated 13%

› brands of e-cigarettes

› flavors of juice or e-liquids

› $3 billion global industry

› adults in the United States have tried e-cigarettes

› American adults vape

› High school students vape

Sources: wired.com, washingtonpost.com, bu.edu

Vaping Jargon

These are some of the basic terms used among vapers.

ADV: All Day Vape, a flavor you could use on a daily basis

ATOMIZER/ATTY: The heating element that turns the liquid into vapor

DOUBLER/TRIPLER: E-liquids without nicotine that can add flavor to and dilute another e-liquid containing nicotine

PG: Propylene Glycol, a base component of e-liquids.

PV: Personal Vaporizer, another name for an e-cigarette.

TANK: Reservoir that holds the e-liquid.

Sources: ecigalternative.com, fda.gov, cdc.gov, sciencenews.org, drugabuse.gov, washingtonpost.com, fortune.com, wired.com, bu.edu, ecigalternative.com

Why, The Nerve!

What Does It Feel Like?

Neuralgia can often feel like electric shocks. Sufferers deal with shooting pains when it flares up and an aching, burning feeling between episodes. These pain attacks can last for days, weeks or even months at a time.

Where Does It Strike?

With nearly 46 miles of nerves in the human body, there’s certainly more than one way to suffer from neuralgia. It can be caused by infection, pressure on the nerves, trauma, diabetes or multiple sclerosis.

Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common form. It affects the trigeminal nerve in the face, the same one that causes brain freezes. Episodes of pain are sparked by chewing, touching, brushing the teeth or just speaking.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia usually begins after age 40 when cranial nerves are irritated, causing nerve pain in the nose, throat, tongue and tonsil area.

How Will My Doctor Test For Neuralgia?

To find the root cause of the pain, doctors may request an MRI as well as checks on kidney function and blood sugar levels. A nerve conduction velocity test measures the speed of signals traveling on the nerves, which doctors can use to determine where the damaged portions are located.

How Is It Treated?

Neuralgia is an intense pain along the nerve. Causes for the condition vary, but doctors agree it’s one of the most painful ailments out there. Here’s what you need to know.

Occipital neuralgia results from concussive trauma to the occipital nerves or repetitive neck contraction and flexion. Pain radiates in the upper neck, back of the head and behind the eyes.

Postherpetic neuralgia is the result of damage to the nerves from the varicella zoster virus, the culprit behind chicken pox and shingles. When shingles begin to crust over, sufferers will experience nerve pain, which normally goes away on its own. It is only classified as neuralgia if it continues for three months.

Of course, doctors will always aim to resolve the cause of the nerve damage and pain. If the source can’t be remedied, doctors will focus on treating the pain itself using antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, lidocaine patches or skin creams made with capsaicin. Some people with the condition even report it disappearing on its own over time.

When Should I See A Doctor?

pain, which normally goes away on its own. It

If your pain doesn’t improve with over-thecounter pain relievers or the attacks become more frequent or intense over time, make an appointment to find out how you can resolve your neuralgia.