Vape users are more likely to suffer from lung inflammation than regular cigarette smokers, a study has found.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have found that electronic devices cause ‘unique’ damage to the lungs that are not yet fully understood.
The study is the latest evidence to highlight how vaping is not as risk-free a quit method as it was initially thought to be.
Other researchers have found that e-cigarettes cause more heart and lung damage than traditional cigarettes.
Vapers have more inflammation in their lungs than regular cigarette smokers (file photo)
The radiotracer used by the researchers was able to highlight areas of inflammation in the lungs within 45 seconds (red).
The researchers gave 15 people a chemical that showed up on CT scans when it stuck to inflammation in their lungs.
Participants were either vape users, traditional smokers, or never used a device.
The results show more inflammation in the lungs of vipers than in smokers or non-smokers.
But surprisingly, tobacco smokers did not experience more inflammation than those who did not use either device.
“We found evidence [e-cigarette] In the study, researchers identified a specific inflammatory response in the lungs.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published last year found that more than 2.5 million American teenagers use e-cigarettes.
While experts describe youth use as a crisis, some warn that the United States will be burdened with lung-related health issues in the future.
“Commercial tobacco product use continues to threaten the health of our nation’s youth,” said Dr. Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health.
For the Penn study, researchers recruited five nonsmokers, five regular cigarette smokers, and five vapers.
They are compatible with each other by age and gender to control inflammation associated with external factors.
Each was injected with a radiotracer called 207 MBq F-18 NOS. Since these marks can be seen on CT scans, they are often used to find radioactive defects.
For example, in cancer treatment, a doctor might inject a tracer into the tissue to look for signs that a person may have the disease in the near future.
Within 42 seconds of the injection, the probe has completely covered a person’s lungs and can detect signs of pain.
The researchers published their findings last week Journal of Nuclear MedicineIt found no difference in lung inflammation between non-smokers and cigarette users.
However, they did find a significant increase in lung inflammation in the vapers group compared to the others.
Lung inflammation is not always permanent or severe. Some have been known to suffer from pneumonia after contracting a viral illness such as the flu.
In some cases, however, the inflammation can lead to scar tissue – which can later lead to cancer.
This type of injury is associated with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The true effects of e-cigarettes on the lungs are still being investigated by health officials, but early evidence suggests the devices can cause serious long-term damage.
Diacetyl, a chemical included in many flavored vape products, has been linked to the dreaded popcorn lung condition.
Known medically as bronchiolitis obliterans, the chemical causes scarring in the lungs and blocks airflow.
Other studies have linked long-term wheezing to the narrowing of the airways in the lungs, which are associated with conditions such as asthma and COPD.
Another recent study shows that the devices can cause DNA damage compared to cigarettes – users open to cancer in the future.
The devices are still believed to be less harmful than cigarettes, but combustible versions are linked to many cancers and lung conditions.