Does Vaping Cause Lung Cancer?

How Do E-Cigarettes Work?

Most e-cigarettes have a cartridge or tank that holds liquid. This liquid typically contains nicotine, although there also are vaping fluids that contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants. A small atomizer heats the liquid, which is then inhaled in aerosol form through a mouthpiece.

There are hundreds of different e-cigarette brands on the market. Some e-cigarettes are battery-powered, while others recharge through a USB port. The manufacturing, labeling, promotion, and sale of e-cigarettes are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Chemicals Found in E-Cigarettes

Although they look different from cigarettes, vaping devices are not necessarily safer. Just like cigarettes, cigars, and tobacco pipes, many e-cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive drug.

E-cigarettes may also contain other harmful chemicals linked to lung disease, including:

• Acrolein
• Benzene
• Diacetyl
• Diethylene glycol
• Formaldehyde

Vaping devices may also contain harmful heavy metals, such as lead, nickel, and cadmium. When people inhale the vapor in an e-cigarette, they are coating the inside of their lungs with these potentially harmful substances.

What Are the Health Risks of Vaping?

Advertisers may try to promote vaping as a safer alternative to cigarettes, but consumers should be wary. Because vaping is a relatively new trend, there is not enough long-term data to know for sure whether e-cigarettes cause cancer. However, many of the chemicals often found in e-cigarettes have been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer.

Research also indicates that people who use e-cigarettes may be at elevated risk for:

Bronchiolitis Obliterans

This is a chronic respiratory condition that can get worse over time. Also known as popcorn lung, bronchiolitis obliterans can develop because of the presence of an organic compound called diacetyl that is found in e-cigarettes. Over time, breathing in diacetyl and other chemicals can cause scarring in the lungs and narrowing of the airways. Symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, and chronic cough. Patients with bronchiolitis obliterans may need to use an inhaler or oxygen therapy.

Addiction to Nicotine

Just like conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes contain nicotine. This is a highly addictive stimulant that travels through the bloodstream into the brain, where it activates nicotine receptors. These receptors release dopamine, a feel-good chemical, but the dopamine hit does not last long. After using nicotine, a person will go into withdrawal and crave more. Nicotine addiction causes numerous side effects, such as:

• Increased blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Changes in heart rate
• Difficulty sleeping
• Weakened immune system

People who are addicted to nicotine are at elevated risk for heart and lung disease, including small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Among teens and young adults, nicotine usage can negatively affect brain development.

Who Is at Increased Risk of Developing Lung Cancer?

Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. Other risk factors for lung cancer include:

• Radon exposure: People who live or work in buildings with high levels of radon, a colorless, odorless gas, have an elevated risk of lung cancer.
• Secondhand smoke: Breathing in smoke from another person’s use of cigarettes, cigars, or pipes can also lead to lung cancer.
• Radiation therapy: People who have had radiation therapy to the chest for conditions such as breast cancer may have an increased risk of getting lung cancer.
• Asbestos exposure: Those who work in occupations such as mining where they are exposed to asbestos repeatedly over time are at increased risk for lung cancer.

Find Lung Cancer Treatment and Clinical Trials

Regional Cancer Care Associates offers advanced treatment for all forms of cancer, including SCLC and NSCLC, as well as treatment for both malignant and benign blood disorders. With multiple locations throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C., area, Regional Cancer Care Associates is staffed by expert, compassionate medical oncologists. Treatment options for lung cancer include:

• Chemotherapy
• Surgery
• Immunotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Radiation therapy

Regional Cancer Care Associates can also connect patients with lung cancer to clinical trials and experimental therapies. For more information about oncology services at Regional Cancer Care Associates, request an appointment at one of our more than 20 locations or contact us today.