vaping

The Iowa Department of Public Health recently published a health advisory concerning suspected cases of severe respiratory illness in a young adult with a history of vaping. Several states have recently reported suspect cases of severe lung injury among patients with a history of vaping. Vaping refers to the increasingly popular practice of inhaling vapor from an e-cigarette device, which works by heating a liquid that can contain nicotine, marijuana, or other drugs. The long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown. Reported symptoms include cough, fatigue, dizziness, headache, vomiting and diarrhea, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, sometimes requiring intensive care. Many cases have initially presented with a history of cough that does not respond to treatment, and have no signs of an infectious cause for their symptoms. Over the course of several days to a week, symptoms progress and cases present with worsening respiratory distress, sometimes requiring ventilator support. Chelsea Bagby, Tobacco Program Coordinator with the Marion County Public Health Department tells KNIA/KRLS News resources are available for Iowans who are having difficulty quitting smoking or vaping. Resources include Quitline Iowa which can help young adults 13 years of age and up quit smoking while working with your healthcare provider and insurance provider. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health a potential case of severe respiratory illness in a young adult with a history of vaping has been reported in Iowa and is currently being investigated.